Festival becoming box-office bonanza

The Newport Beach Film Festival marked its fifth year this go-round.

For an event that once seemed headed for the cutting room floor,

that’s a story itself worth telling on the silver screen.

The festival drew 25,500 filmgoers this year, a 21% increase from 2003, and it screened a mix of big-budget, independent, documentary

and short films that hasn’t yet been seen this far south.

“We’re really excited,” Director of Marketing Todd Quartararo

said. “We really kind of view year five as our breakout year. We’ve

hit that critical mass and we’re already starting our planning for

next year.”

Move over Sundance?

Well, it’s not quite there yet, but it appears it could be on its

way.

The festival’s inaugural “deja viewings,” re-screenings of some of

the most talked-about films during the closing weekend, was a

wonderful idea that will only blossom in the coming seasons when

filmgoers have a better idea that they’re coming. And with “Laws of

Attraction,” starring such big names as Pierce Brosnan and Julianne

Moore, electing Newport as the vessel for its world premiere, it’s

clear that indie filmmakers wrestling with minimal budgets aren’t the

only ones with their eyes on the festival that boasts the most

beautiful, scenic backdrop in its field.

This season did reveal that few Klingon-garbed “Trekkies” have

Newport Beach pegged as one of their can’t-miss spots, but it’s

fairly safe to say the festival won’t be needing the all-important

“Trekkie” vote to stay running.

Alan Arkin was honored by organizers with this year’s lifetime

achievement award, and let’s hope the festival continues to grow and

dazzle enough over the years that it might consider itself a

candidate in, say, 2034.

Festival organizers are learning more every year, film lovers will

keep showing up at the box office in increasing numbers as the

festival’s success grows and the city will keep smiling about the gem

that’s being created here.

And we’ll be here to cover it.