SPOTLIGHT
NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL
It opens with “The Bank” and is sure to go out with a bang. The third
annual Newport Beach Film Festival opens Thursday, bringing a taste of
Hollywood glamour to Newport’s theaters. Almost 200 films -- including 73
features -- will screen during the eight-day event, which ends April 19
with an awards ceremony.
Among the people being feted this year are indie film legend John
Waters, film composer Elmer Bernstein and director McG, better known to
Corona del Mar High School grads as Joseph McGinty.
This is the first year the festival will open with a premiere rather
than a retrospective. “The Bank,” directed by Robert Connolly, is an
Australian thriller starring Anthony La Paglia as a greedy banker and
David Wenham as the mathematical genius who could hold the key to making
a fortune. Members of the cast and crew are expected to attend.
The gala following the screening will include gourmet food by Clayton
Shurley’s Real BBQ, Brio Ristorante, Roy’s of Newport Beach, Newport
Landing and more.
A schedule for the festival can be found in Monday’s Daily Pilot or by
logging on to www.newportbeachfilmfest.com.
FYI
What: “The Bank” opening night gala
Where: Edwards Big Newport, 300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.
Post-screening gala will be held in Palm Garden at the Four Seasons.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $75. Black tie optional
Contact: (949) 253-2880 or www.newportbeachfilmfest.com
Young adult author Sones to speak
SONYA SONES AT THE NEWPORT BEACH CENTRAL LIBRARY
Award-winning author and poet Sonya Sones will be on hand to meet with
people Thursday at the Newport Beach Central Library. Sones’ work has
received poetry awards, and her book “Stop Pretending: What Happened When
My Big Sister Went Crazy” was nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book
prize in the young adult category. Before becoming a poet, Sones taught
filmmaking at Harvard University, taught animation on grants from the
National Endowment for the Arts and has worked as a script supervisor, a
photographer and a film editor.
FYI
Where: Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach
When: 1 p.m. Thursday
Cost: Free
Contact: (949) 717-3801
PLANNING AHEAD
‘DEAD MAN WALKING’
Opera Pacific will present “Dead Man Walking” at the Orange County
Performing Arts Center. The opera is based on the book by Sister Helen
Prejean.
Opens Tuesday, April 16
UC IRVINE OPEN HOUSE
UC Irvine will host its 24th annual open house, featuring Earth Day
activities, children’s games and rides, a petting zoo, a magic show and
more.
Thursday, April 18
NUMERICALLY SPEAKING
22: The number of documentaries among the almost 200 films in the
Newport Beach Film Festival, which starts Thursday.
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