Bobby Cannavale, Dave Holstein, Meg LeFauve, Margaret Qualley and Kiernan Shipka to Receive Additional NBFF Honors

“The Last Showgirl” Added to Line-up; Cinematographer Panelists Announced

Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) proudly announces additional honorees Bobby Cannavale (“Ezra”) who will be honored with the Artist of Distinction Award and Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”) who will be honored with the Spotlight Award. Both Cannavale and Qualley will be honored at the Festival’s annual Awards brunch taking place on Sunday, October 20. They will be recognized alongside previously announced honorees Nicolas Cage (Icon Award), Joan Chen (Career Achievement Award), Colman Domingo (Maverick Award), Marianne-Jean Baptiste (Artist of Distinction), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Artist of Distinction), George MacKay (Spotlight Award), June Squibb (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Diane Warren (Lifetime Achievement in Music).

In addition, the Festival will be honoring actress Kiernan Shipka with the Artist of Distinction Award at the newly added screening of “The Last Showgirl.” Director Gia Coppola and writer Kate Gersten will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A with Skipka following the screening. The film follows a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run. The film also stars Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, and Billie Lourd. The film will screen on Sunday, October 20 at the Lido Theater.

The Festival will also be hosting a special screening of “Inside Out 2” on Saturday, October 19 at 1pm. Following the screening the Festival will honor co- screen writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein with the Artist of Distinction Award – Screenwriting. Holstein will accept the award during a conversation about the film. Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment show up.

Lastly, the Festival announced the panelists for their brand-new Masters of the Frame panel, highlighting the industry’s leading cinematographers. Confirmed cinematographers include Alice Brooks (“Wicked”) and Lawrence Sher (“Joker: Folie à Deux”). The panel will take place on Saturday, October 19 at 1pm.

Bobby Cannavale (Artist of Distinction)

Bobby Cannavale can currently be seen starring in Tony Goldwyn’s “Ezra” which follows divorced stand-up comedian Max Bernal (Cannavale) who embarks on a cross-country road trip with his neurodivergent son, Ezra, that has a transcendent impact on both of their lives. This year, he can also be seen in William Goldenberg’s “Unstoppable” for Amazon alongside Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Peña, and Don Cheadle which premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival. Cannavale will begin production next month on Amazon’s series Scarpetta starring and executive produced by Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis. The project based on Patricia Cornwell’s best-selling Kay Scarpetta book series that follows Kay Scarpetta (Kidman), Chief Medical Examiner. Additional film credits include Martin Scorsese's “The Irishman” which received a SAG nomination for Oustanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, “Old Dads,” “Blonde,” “Thunderforce,” “Superintelligence,” “I, Tonya,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Ant-Man,” “Danny Collins,” “Annie, Spy,” “Chef,” “Blue Jasmine,” “WinWin,” “The Station Agent,” “Romance & Cigarettes.” Cannavale also starred in the Netflix series “The Watcher,” “Bupkis,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “Homecoming,” “Angie Tribeca,” “Mr. Robot,” “Maser of None,” “Nurse Jackie” for which he received 2 Emmy nominations, “Boardwalk Empire” for which he received an Emmy Award and a SAG nomination and “Will & Grace” for which he also received an Emmy Award. Theater credits include Here We Are, The Lifespan of a Fact, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Motherf**ker with the Hat for which he received a Tony Award nomination and Mauritius for which he also received a Tony Award nomination.

Dave Holstein (Artist of Distinction Award – Screenwriting)

Dave Holstein is the Golden Globe-nominated co-screenwriter of Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” which became the first film of 2024 to hit $1 Billion at the global box office. Previously, Dave was the writer/creator of Showtime’s Golden Globe-nominated dramedy series “Kidding,” starring Jim Carrey, and was also a writer/executive producer on the Showtime drama “I’m Dying Up Here.” Dave was also a writer/executive producer on HBO’s comedy series “The Brink,” and was a writer/producer on the final season FOX’s “Raising Hope.” Before that, he spent six years as a writer/producer on Showtime’s “Weeds.” Dave has developed pilots for Netflix, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Starz, Comedy Central, Showtime, CBS and FOX, as well as feature films for Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers and Amazon. As a playwright, Dave’s work has been performed in Edinburgh, Sydney, New York, Chicago and elsewhere. His musical adaptation of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (with Alan Schmuckler) for the Tony-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theatre received a National Alliance for Musical Theater grant and is published with Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals. His podcast musical “Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me” (also with Alan Schmuckler) received the Sarah Lawrence International Award for Audio Fiction, as well as a 2017 Webby Award.

Meg LeFauve (Artist of Distinction Award – Screenwriting)

Meg LeFauve was lucky enough to start her career as an executive and producer at Jodie Foster’s Egg Pictures, where she spent 10 years learning from the best, and was nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe and won a Peabody Award. She later decided to face her fear of theblank page and declared herself a screenwriter. LeFauve set Pixar, the place with the best storytellers in the business, as her beacon, and she got her chance to write with Pete Docter on the first “Inside Out,” for which she garnered an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay and an Annie Award. She went on to write Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur,” which was nominated for a Golden Globe, and is thrilled to be back for “Inside Out 2.” She is also grateful to have worked with incredible fellow artists on Marvel’s “Captain Marvel” and Cartoon Saloon’s “My Father’s Dragon” for Netflix. LeFauve is currently writing with her husband, Joe Forte, and, after 30 years of navigating the business as individual filmmakers, writing together feels like finally coming home.

Margaret Qualley (Spotlight Award)

Margaret Qualley can currently be seen starring in Coralie Fargeat’s critically acclaimed body horror feature, “The Substance,” alongside Demi Moore. She has become one of the most sought-after actors of her generation since her esteemed debut portrayal on the HBO series “The Leftovers.” In 2021, Qualley starred in the Netflix limited series “Maid,” for which she received Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice Award nominations. Her additional credits include “Kinds of Kindness,” “Drive Away Dolls,” “Poor Things,” “Sanctuary,” “Stars at Noon,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and “Fosse/Verdon.” Her upcoming films include Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t,” Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon,” and “Huntington,” also starring Glen Powell.

Kiernan Shipka (Artist of Distinction Award)

A burgeoning face in both the film and television worlds, Kiernan Shipka is at the beginning of a long and successful career. Shipka is most recognizable for her recurring role as Sally Draper in AMC’s Emmy-winning hit series “Mad Men”, opposite Jon Hamm and January Jones. Shipka was nominated in 2009 and 2011 for the Young Artist Award for her role in the series. “Mad Men” won the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Emmy Award for “Outstanding Drama Series,” the 2009 Golden Globe for “Best Television Series – Drama” as well as the 2009 and 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.” Up next, Shipka stars alongside Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans and Lucy Liu in Amazon MGM Studios’ action film “Red One.” Shipka will also lead in MAX’s romantic comedy “Sweethearts.” Most recently, Shipka was featured in the buzzy 2024 horror film “Longlegs,” as well the blockbuster hit “Twisters.” Shipka appeared in the HBO limited series “White House Plumbers”, alongside Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux in May 2023. She also starred in the 2023 indie dark comedy, “Wildflower,” opposite Jean Smart. Shipka reprised her role of Sabrina Spellman in a crossover episode on Season 6 of The CW’s “Riverdale”, as well as in Roku’s “Swimming with Sharks” alongside Diane Kruger.

The 25^th edition of the festival will be held from October 17-24 and will spotlight films from around the world. The 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival highlights include the Opening Night film “Old Guy” and the Closing Night film “A Real Pain.” Centerpiece films include “Blitz,” “Hard Truths,” “Nightbitch,” and “The Piano Lesson.”

The Opening Night Gala will take place at Fashion Island and will feature live entertainment and culinary tastings from two dozen of Newport Beach’s top restaurants. Tickets to the Opening Night Film and Gala are $225. Gala events are open to attendees 21 and older. For Festival passes, tickets, and complete line-up, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com.

About Newport Beach Film Festival

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States. The event brings an internationally curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the beautiful Southern California coast. Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture and cinematic excellence, engaging the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists. The Newport Beach Film Festival is sponsored in part by UCI Health, KIA, Los Angeles Times, GAMFF, Fashion Island, and Visit Newport Beach. Festival dates are October 17-24, 2024. For Festival passes and tickets, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com