Newport’s version of the Oscars

Alex Coolman

NEWPORT BEACH -- And the winner is ...

Crowds thronged the Orange County Museum of Art on Thursday to witness

the award ceremonies for the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The ceremonies marked the end of the eight-day program of international

feature films, shorts and industry seminars that kicked off March 30.

And judging by the smiling faces drifting past the floodlights and the

Manuel Neri sculptures at OCMA, it was an ending that took place on a

high note.

“I think it has been divine,” cooed Orange County Film Commissioner

Janice Arrington. “Every night, the events were bigger and busier.”

Festival director Gregg Schwenk pronounced himself “tremendously excited”

with the way the festival had run.

“The response from filmmakers has been outstanding,” he said.

Leigh Steinberg, who acted as title sponsor of the event, along with his

wife, Lucy, looked pleased as he munched on a quesadilla.

“We’re delighted,” he said. “The turnout has exceeded every expectation

we had. We’ve laid the foundation for an event that will grow and grow in

stature.”

Winners of the sandcastle-shaped prize included Newport Beach auteur

David Sperling, who captured the Audience Favorite award for shorts with

his film, “Crime Scene Cleaners.”

“Long Night’s Journey Into Day,” a documentary featuring a segment about

the story of Amy Biehl, tied for the Outstanding Filmmaker award.

For the filmmakers who carried away awards, Thursday night’s fete was a

moment of sweet personal success.

“I’m literally speechless,” exclaimed James Ronald Whitney, the director

whose “Just Melvin” was tapped for best documentary.

Hunt Hoe, who won the director’s award for his film “Seducing Maarya,”

took the overwhelmed tone one step further.

“This is the only award I’ve ever won in my life,” he told the audience.

For volunteer staffers, who labored to put on the festival, the awards

were also a moment of triumph.

Only six months ago, the festival looked as if it might be permanently

out of commission. Founder Jeff Conner had filed for bankruptcy and the

fate of the event he organized was left hanging.

But in a fairly herculean effort of restructuring, a board of directors

assembled to rescue the festival, putting together in a short time an

event that ran with remarkable smoothness.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the directors of “Americanos,”

which tied with “Long Night’s Journey Into Day” for the Outstanding

Filmmaker award, Pepe Serna cited the remarkable efforts of the event

staff.

“I’ve been with the festival from the very beginning and I think it’s

fabulous the way they have brought it together,” Serna said, reserving an

additional dollop of praise for Conner’s efforts in originally developing

the event.

SELECTED AWARD WINNERS

* Best feature: “You Can Thank Me Later”

* Best documentary: “Just Melvin”

* Best foreign film: “Ave Maria”

* Best director: Hunt Hoe, “Seducing Maarya”

* Best cinematographer: Denis Crossan, “The Clandestine Marriage”

* Best screenplay: Chi Muoi Lo, “Catfish in Blackbean Sauce”

* Audience award -- Best feature: “Starry Night”

* Audience favorite -- Short: Dave Sperling, “Crime Scene Cleaners,” tie

with Michael Horowitz, “This Guy Is Falling”

* Visionary award -- Short: “The Cannabis Conspiracy”