They’re ready for their close-up

Andrew Glazer

Movie buffs and other volunteers are scurrying to deliver films and put

the final touches on tonight’s curtain opener for the Newport Beach Film

Festival.

Getting the films -- which have arrived from filmmakers around the world

-- to participating theaters may be challenging, however, because some

canisters are printed in their native language.

“Some films coming in are labeled in Chinese,” said Todd Quartararo, the

festival’s spokesman. “But the office right next to ours is a language

institute, and they’re interpreting for us.”

The festival kicks off tonight with a screening of the 1950s “Sunset

Boulevard,” followed by a reception at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel

and Tennis Club.

The slightly frazzled festival organizer, Greg Schwenk, said “Sunset

Boulevard” -- which is about a washed-up silent movie star -- is the

perfect film to launch the festival.

“It’s one of the most legendary films ever,” he said. “There are few

things in life that get better with age; this is one of them.”

Tonight’s screening is the first of 45 feature films to be shown in the

festival, which ends April 6. It will also showcase more than 100 short

films from around the world and offer free filmmaking seminars and

special screenings and parties.

Schwenk said that on opening night, VIPs -- including city officials,

community leaders and Paramount Studios executive A.C. Lyles -- will be

shuttled to the theater in a 1930 Cadillac and 1933 Rolls Royce limousine.

But stargazers should look elsewhere .

“We’re really trying to stress this is a community festival,” he said.

“Sundance [Film Festival] didn’t have celebrities when it got started.”

For the reception, the ballroom will be decorated in black and white,

said Glace Lomond, the festival’s director of operations.

The 14-piece Yvonne Winter Orchestra will provide entertainment for the

800 to 1,000 guests, who will feast on gourmet Chinese nibbles prepared

by Pick Up Stix and smoothies donated by Jamba Juice.

The screening of “Sunset Boulevard” begins at 7:30 p.m. at Edwards Big

Newport Cinema, 300 Newport Center Drive. The gala opening reception is

from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club,

900 Newport Center Drive.

Advanced tickets for the screening and reception are $50. Student tickets

will be available 10 minutes before showtime for $10.

For more information, call the festival headquarters at (949) 253-2880.