Film festival to hit the heights

Gregg M. Schwenk, Special to the Pilot

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the third annual

Newport Beach Film Festival. The festival will bring to our community the

best in classic and contemporary filmmaking. Over eight days, we will

screen nearly 200 films from over 25 countries, host 14 Spotlight and special events and produce an expanded two-day seminar program. We are

confident that you will find our Festival to be a celebration of film as

an art form, as well as entertainment.

The 2002 Festival will screen the largest selection of foreign Oscar

submissions, largest selection of Sundance films, and most diverse array

of film titles in our history. We are the largest film festival in Orange

County and one of the fastest growing in California. Our educational

component is rated as among the best in the nation.

I would like to thank all of our sponsors, supporters and volunteers.

I highly commend our incredible staff for producing a remarkable event.

The programmers, managers, directors, assistants, phone answerers,

drivers, office workers, event planners, theater managers and general

helpers are the true heroes of the festival. It is their efforts that

make this festival great.

A special thanks goes to Lucy and Leigh Steinberg and to the City of

Newport Beach. Their ongoing commitment, both financial and

philosophical, make the Newport Beach Film Festival possible.

Enjoy the show.

* GREGG M. SCHWENK is executive director of the Newport Beach Film

Festival.