BRIEFLY in the news

More marketing, more screens and additions to the seminar series.

That’s what the Newport Beach Film Festival is hoping to do with the

$75,000 that Newport Beach has budgeted for them in 2001-02, said

festival director Gregg Schwenk. The money is more than double the

$35,000 the city gave to the event for the 2001 festival.

“I think the city’s been pleased with the professionalism and the

evolution of the festival,” Schwenk said. “We’ve been able to prove it

has staying power and that it’s a valuable asset from the artistic and

financial standpoint, as well.”

About 17,000 people attended the festival this year, up about 2,000

from the 2000 festival’s numbers.

The 2002 Newport Beach Film Festival is planned for April 11-19.