Newport Beach Film Festival facts for kids
| Location | Newport Beach, California, United States |
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The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is a super cool event that happens every year in Newport Beach, California. It's a film festival, which means it's a big celebration of movies! It usually takes place in late April.
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The Festival's Story
The Newport Beach Film Festival started in 1999. It was created to bring amazing movies to Newport Beach, California. This festival shows all kinds of films. You can see movies from different countries. It features both independent films and big studio movies. Many films shown here are "premieres." This means they are being shown for the very first time. Some are world premieres, others are first-time showings in North America or the U.S. The festival also has an "International Spotlight Series." This part of the festival celebrates films made in other languages. In 2013, something new was added. The festival teamed up with the Orange County Music Awards. This led to a "Music Video Showcase." It was the first time music videos were part of the festival. Gregg Schwenk helped start the festival. He is now the main leader, called the executive director-CEO. He believed Newport Beach was the perfect place for an international film festival.
How the Festival Has Grown
The Newport Beach Film Festival has become very popular. People come from all over to see the films. About 30% to 40% of the audience comes from outside the local area. In 2015, the festival showed more than 350 films. These films came from 50 different countries! Over 3,000 films were sent in for the festival to consider. More and more film buyers and distributors now attend. These are people who help get movies into theaters or onto streaming services. In 2014, the festival had a record number of visitors. Around 54,000 people attended the event that year.
Cool Types of Films You Can See
The Newport Beach Film Festival has eight different sections for films. Filmmakers can send their movies to compete in these sections. Here are some of the types of films you might see:
- Action Sports Films
- AA+D (Art, Architecture and Design Film Series)
- Documentaries (movies about real-life topics)
- Environmental Films (movies about nature and our planet)
- Family Films
- Music Films
- Short Films (movies that are not very long)
- Youth Films (movies made by or for young people)
Because the festival is near the ocean, many films are about surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. This shows that many people who attend love action sports movies!
Who Helps Make the Festival Happen?
The Newport Beach Film Festival gets help from many sponsors. These are local businesses and groups that support the event. The main sponsor is the city of Newport Beach itself. Many different types of sponsors help out:
- Premiere sponsors help show the films.
- Event sponsors support special gatherings.
- Media sponsors help spread the word.
- Production sponsors help with making things happen.
- Supporting sponsors give general help.
- Hotel and restaurant sponsors provide places to stay and eat.
- Community and cultural groups also partner with the festival.
The festival also works with colleges in Southern California. They put together a showcase of films made by students. Some partner schools include UCLA, USC, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, and Chapman University. These student films are shown at special theaters. These screenings are a great way to see new filmmakers' work. The festival also partners with art and education groups. They bring special events to the area. These events can include talks with filmmakers, early movie showings, art tours, music, and book signings. In 2013, the festival started a new partnership. They teamed up with the Orange County Music Awards.
