2010 Newport Beach Film Festival Announces Opening And Closing Night Films
Written by: FFT Webmaster | March 31st, 2010
World Premiere of Five Star Day and Advance Screening of Letters to Juliet
Bookend 11th Anniversary Festival – April 22 -29, 2010
Newport Beach, CA (March 31, 2010) – The 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) will kick off its eleventh anniversary with the World Premiere of FIVE STAR DAY on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 7:30pmat Edwards Big Newport (300 Newport Center Drive) and close with an advance screening of LETTERS TO JULIET on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8:00pm at Regency Lido Theatre (3459 Via Lido Drive).
FIVE STAR DAY starring Cam Gigandet (Twilight) and Jena Malone (The Soloist, Donnie Darko), marks the feature directorial debut for Orange County native Danny Buday, who is also the film’s producer and screenwriter. FIVE STAR DAY is the feature debut for editor Curtis Pierce and cinematographer Jason Oldak. Orange County filmmakers on the film include producer Mike Robertson and production designer Megan Hutchinson.
Jake Gibson’s (Gigandet) horoscope forecasts a perfect ‘Five Star Day’ the morning of his birthday. Little does he realize that what’s foretold to be a flawless ‘Five Star Day’, unfolds to be far less than stellar when Jake’s world is turned upside down when all that could go wrong, does.
Following the red carpet screening of FIVE STAR DAY, the Festival, in partnership with Esquire magazine, will host an Opening Night Gala at the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard in Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Drive), featuring culinary creations from 25 Newport Beach area restaurants, a fashion show presented by Fashion Island and a special performance of Mystère by Cirque du Soleil.
Directed by Gary Winikc (Bride Wars, Charlotte’s Web, 13 Going on 30) and written by Oscar Nominated writer, Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries), LETTERS TO JULIET stars Amanda Seyfried (Dear John, Mamma Mia!), Gael García Bernal (Rudo y Cursi, The Motorcycle Diaries, Babel), and Vanessa Redgrave, (Atonement, Nip Tuck).
When a young American (Seyfried) travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of “Romeo and Juliet” fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated from 1957, she inspires its author (Redgrave) to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love, which sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they have ever imagined.
The Closing Night celebration will take place at the Via Lido Plaza (3459 Via Lido Drive) following the screening of LETTER TO JULIET and will feature menu selections from over a dozen restaurants, live entertainment and other festivities.
“This year’s Festival features a diverse slate of independent and studio films from around the globe, impressive in both depth and breadth. Our coastal resort setting, amazing community support and strong filmmaker participation authenticate the Festival as the ultimate destination to experience cinema and discover new filmmaking talent”, stated Gregg Schwenk, Executive Director/CEO of the NBFF.
The 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival will showcase over 350 films from 47 countries and host nightly special events, red carpet galas, compelling conversations with filmmakers, international spotlight events and seminars. The Festival offers filmgoers unique opportunities to mingle with celebrities, filmmakers from around the globe and film industry professionals in a beautiful seaside locale.
The NBFF is sponsored in part by Absolut Vodka, Fashion Island, Regal Entertainment Group, Newport Lexus, Los Angeles Times, Time Warner Cable, and the City of Newport Beach.
Passes and tickets for film screenings and galas go on sale April 1, along with a complete Festival line-up. To purchase tickets and for more information about the Newport Beach Film Festival, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com
About the Newport Beach Film Festival
Celebrated as one of the leading lifestyle film festivals in the United States, the Newport Beach Film Festival seeks to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program, a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the NBFF focuses on showcasing a diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the globe. The eleventh annual Newport Beach Film Festival runs April 22-30, 2010 and will spotlight over 400 films from around the world. www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com
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