Awards and unforgettable moments and stars at the Newport Beach Film Fest

The Newport Beach Film Festival is proud to recognize these filmmakers and films for their outstanding achievements.

24th ANNUAL NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2023 AWARDS WINNERS

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Best International Feature: “Radical”
Best U.S. Feature: “The Holdovers & Brave the Dark (tie)”
Best Action Sports Film: “One Way Ticket – The Story of Greg Lutzka”
Best Culinary: “Food & Design”
Best Environmental Feature: “Green City Life”
Best Art, Architecture + Design Feature: “Copyright Infringement”
Best Overall Documentary: “The Disappearance of Shere Hite & Remembering Gene Wilder (tie)”
Best Short Narrative: “Two For the Road”
Best Short Documentary: “Sincero”
Best Short Animation: “Aikane & Worry World (tie)”
Best Art, Architecture + Design Short: “Barbara Rachko: True Grit”
Best Action Sports Short: “#MoCrazyStrong”
Best Irish Film: “Verdigris”

JURY AWARDS

Best Feature Documentary: “The Michoacán File”
Best Feature: “Monster”
Best Screenplay: Yûji Sakamoto (Monster)
Best Director: Guy Édoin (Frontiers / Frontières)
Best Cinematography: “Narayan Van Maele (Double Blind)”
Best Actor: “Eita Nagayama (Monster)”
Best Actress: “Pascale Bussières (Frontiers / Frontières)”
Best Short Narrative: “Dig Deeper”
Best Short Documentary: “Danceable”
Best Short Animation: “Inglorious Liaisons”

FESTIVAL HONORS

Outstanding Performance: “Annette Bening (Nyad)”
Outstanding Performance: “Colman Domingo (Rustin)”
Outstanding Feature Narrative: “American Fiction – Cord Jefferson”
Outstanding Screenplay: “American Fiction – Cord Jefferson”
Outstanding Documentary: “Immediate Family”
Outstanding Documentary: “Williams & Mansell: Red 5”
Outstanding International Documentary: “I Dream In Photos”
Outstanding Editing Feature: “American Fiction – Hilda Rasula
Outstanding Editing Short: “Numan – Salem Salavati”
Outstanding Short Narrative: “A Wedding Day”
Outstanding Short Documentary: “Eat Flowers”
Outstanding Young Filmmaker Short: “Ovaryacting”

Throughout the run of events, the Newport Beach Film Festival celebrated outstanding achievement in film with its slate of 2023 honorees. On Friday, October 13, at the Sunset Series: Mayor’s Reception at VEA Newport Beach, honorees included Patricia Clarkson (Artist of Distinction Award), Jack Huston (Breakout Director Award), Phil Lord (Maverick Award) and Chris Miller (Maverick Award). On Saturday, October 14, the Festival honored Mark Ronson with its Outstanding Achievement in Music Award following a live moderated discussion at its Main Stage at Fashion Island. On Sunday, October 15, following a screening of his newest film “May December,” Todd Haynes was honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award. On Monday, October 16, Jesse Williams was honored with the Arts Champion Award at the Festival’s Sunset Series: Arts Champion event at Lido Marina Village. On Wednesday, October 18, at the Festival’s Sunset Series: Garden Party at the Sherman Library and Gardens, Eugenio Derbez (Icon Award) and William Shatner (Legend Award) were both honored. Then, on Thursday, October 19, Glenn Howerton (Artist of Distinction Award) was honored at the Festival’s Closing Night at Balboa Bay Resort.

Other highlights of the Festival included the Opening Night “Los Angeles Times Envelope” screening of “The Absence of Eden,” directed by Marco Perego Saldaña and live conversations at the Festival Main Stage at Fashion Island including Rainn Wilson and Judy Blume.