Editor

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL OPENS WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF LAWS OF ATTRACTION

The Newport Beach Film Festival opens its fifth annual event with the world premiere of Laws of Attraction from New Line Cinema on April 15, 2004.

Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore star in this romantic comedy directed by Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors). The film's ensemble cast also features Parker Posey (A Mighty Wind), Michael Sheen (Underworld), Frances Fisher (Titanic) and Nora Dunn (Bruce Almighty). The film chronicles high-powered New York divorce attorneys Daniel Rafferty (Pierce Brosnan) and Audrey Woods (Julianne Moore) has seen love gone wrong in all its worst case scenarios - so how bad could their own chances be? This film is scheduled to release in theaters nationwide on April 30th, 2004.

The Festival’s selection committee reviewed more than 1,500 films. The films selected to run in the Festival will compete for jury and audience awards. This year's event includes more than 120 features and documentaries. In addition, more than 200 short films will be showcased, making it one of the largest short film programs within a feature film festival in the entire nation. Films will screen at Edwards Island Cinemas (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach), the Lido Theater (3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach) and the Orange County Museum of Art (850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach), Opening Night will screen at the beautiful Edwards Big Newport, (300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach).

The Festival has had much growth and depth to it’s program this year with a large amount of major studio representation. Newport looks to grow even further with the special industry support events that support filmmakers and the festival industry. With this type of direction it’s no surprise they are becoming known as the “Filmmakers Festival”. The innovative “Meet The Programmers Day” has major festivals clamoring for an invitation to participate and well as filmmakers who would like a chance to interact with Festival heads who are seeking submissions for their upcoming Festivals.


Special events at the Festival include:

April 15
Opening Night - Laws of Attraction (World Premiere) starring Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore. Screening followed by a gala celebration at the Radisson Hotel, Newport Beach.

April 16
The Endless Summer, a Bruce Brown film, is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Festival on April 16, 2004, followed by a post-party at the Hard Rock Café (Newport Beach) benefiting the Surfrider Foundation.

April 17
The west coast premiere of Saved! MGM/United Artist starring Jena Malone and Mandy Moore plays April 17, 2004 with a post-party at the Hard Rock Café (Newport Beach).

April 18
Ghostbusters celebrates it 20th anniversary with a special. The Big Empty from Artisan/Lions Gate, 10 Year Anniversary of Endless Summer II, and a World Premiere of Shut Up & Kiss Me The Festival salutes Alan Arkin with its Lifetime Achievement Award and the world premiere of Raising Flagg

April 19
The Festival’s French Spotlight is Moi Cesar with a post-party at Bloomingdale’s (Fashion Island, Newport Beach)

April 20
Italian film will be showcased with the screening Memory Lane with a post party at Francoli Gourmet Emporio (Fashion Island, Newport Beach).
Trekkies 2 (Paramount Pictures), the sequel to the cult favorite, will make its world premiere at the Festival with a post-party at the Hard Rock Café (Newport Beach) featuring the Star Trek tribute band Warp 11.

April 21
Muldoon’s Irish Pub(Newport Beach) will host a celebration of Irish Film North American Premiere of Bloom from Paragon Films and the West Coast Premiere of Lion’s Gate A Slipping Down Life, staring Guy Pierce and Lily Taylor

April 22
Closing the Festival is the French film Love Me If You Dare (Paramount Pictures) playing at the Lido Theater with a post party to follow

April 23
“Meet The Programmers Day” a day to support Filmmakers in the business of film with seminars and interaction with festival programmers. Filmmakers gather at the Radisson Hotel (Newport Beach) for Awards Ceremony. Audience and Jury Awards will be announced.

April 24-25
New for 2004, the “Best of the Fest,” a sampling of the best films from the 2004 Festival, will screen all weekend long at the Orange County Museum of Art (Newport Beach).

The Newport Beach Film Festival is sponsored by Absolut Vodka, Adelphia, American Express, Lucy & Leigh Steinberg, and the City of Newport Beach.
Tickets for the Film Festival go on sale April 1st at www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com or by calling (949) 253-2880. Most screenings are $10, unless otherwise noted.