‘A Hard Day’s Night’ of partying and fund-raising

Young Chang

The newly formed Newport Beach Premiere Cinema Guild is throwing a

party -- a Beatles-themed party with an impersonating band called the Fab

Four and a local screening of the 1964 Beatles film “A Hard Day’s Night.”

Not a dull way to make an entrance.

Local resident Lucy Steinberg helped start the guild to fund the

Newport Beach Film Festival. In the chartering process, the guild is

still working toward its nonprofit status.

But its first fund-raiser -- the party and screening of “A Hard Day’s

Night” -- will be held Thursday.

Steinberg was inspired to help the film festival earlier this year

after watching the documentary “Long Nights Journey Into Day,” about

apartheid in South Africa and Newport Beach resident Amy Biehl, who was

murdered there in 1993.

It was a profound documentary for Steinberg, one that caused change,

inspiration and a desire to bring more films to Newport Beach.

“I think it brings the human experience to people,” she said. “I think

that movies can really teach people valuable lessons.”

With 11 others who care about films, culture and Newport Beach,

including Gregg Schwenk, executive director of the Newport Beach Film

Festival, the guild took form in September. It’s initial goal is to

spread the festival’s name and cause. The result will, guild members

hope, generate funds for the spring festival.

Earlier this year, the festival had a turnout of about 20,000 people,

with 50 feature films, 150 short films and special events on each night

of the seven-day event. If there was a theme to be had for next year,

Schwenk said, it would be “being evolutionary instead of revolutionary.”

The 2001 film festival will be international in scope, with more than

18 countries represented. Genres will include comedy, drama and

documentary. Sixty feature films and 160 short films will be shown.

“This bodes very well,” Schwenk said of the increase in movies.

Less than a year after Jeffrey S. Conner, founder of the former

Newport Beach International Film Festival, filed for bankruptcy,

organizers of the newly revived and slightly renamed Newport Beach Film

Festival have reason to be optimistic.

The 2000 festival happened, despite doubt that it would. Thanks to

local business officials, who backed the event both financially and with

hands-on work during long hours, Schwenk and the new guild hope to

continue the six-year tradition.

Sponsors for the upcoming fund-raiser include The Watch Connection in

Costa Mesa, The European Clinic, Bloomingdales, The Sutton Place Hotel in

Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Club. Corona del Mar artist Michael

Bryan created the invitations and posters.

By next spring, the group hopes to expand its membership to at least

40 people.

Rita Goldberg, chairman of the guild, thinks Beatles-mania may do the

trick.

“It’s a wonderful movie because it’s exciting, upbeat and it really

lends itself to a very festive evening,” she said. “You walk out of that

movie and you feel like dancing and being in a good mood.”

FYI

* WHAT: The Newport Beach Premiere Cinema Guild’s kickoff fund-raiser

party and screening of “A Hard Day’s Night.”

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday

* WHERE: Edwards Island Cinema and the Hard Rock Cafe in Fashion

Island, 905 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

* COST: $100 for the post-screening party, which includes dinner,

entertainment and a silent auction. Only party guests get a complimentary

screening of the movie.

* CALL: (949) 253-2880.