The 25th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival begins Thursday, October 17, 2024 and concludes Thursday, October 24, 2024. The annual 8-day festival showcases over 300 feature and short films from over 50 countries. Additionally, there are numerous public parties featuring more than 60 culinary partners with their finest tastings and hosted bars.
Throughout the rest of the year, there are host screenings, industry events, and awards programs spotlighting independent and international filmmakers.
Newport Beach Film Festival
Dates: Thursday, October 17, 2024 and concludes on Thursday, October 24, 2024
Locations: The festival takes place in theaters around Newport Beach, including Fashion Island’s THE LOT, Regal’s Big Edwards Newport, and Starlight Cinemas.
NewportBeachFilmFest.com
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Opening Night
Premier Screening
The Absence Of Eden
Thursday, October 12 at 7:30PM at Big Newport
“An ICE Agent struggling with the moral dilemmas of border security and an undocumented woman fighting to escape a ruthless cartel cross paths and work together to save the life of an innocent girl.” Featuring Zoe Saldaña, Garrett Hedlund, and Adria Arjona.
Opening Night Gala
Following the premiere screening attendees will experience the Festival’s renowned Opening Night Gala at Fashion Island and enjoy signature tastings from more than two dozen of the area’s top restaurants along with a hosted bar.
Closing Night
Premier Screening
The Holdovers
Thursday, October 19 at 7:30PM at the New Port Theater
“The Holdovers, which stars Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and newcomer Dominic Sessa. From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).”
Preceding the premiere screening, attendees will experience the Festival’s Closing Night Party at the picturesque Sherman Library & Gardens. Guests will enjoy top entertainment and signature tastings from some of the area’s top restaurants along with a hosted bar. The Closing Night Party is part of the Festival’s Sunset Food & Wine Series.
NBFF Film Programs
All Newport Beach Film Festival screenings are open to the public.
- Action Sports Films
- Art, Architecture & Design
- Collegiate
- Culinary
- Documentaries
- Environmental
- Family
- International Spotlights
- Music
- Narratives
- Shorts
- Centerpiece
- LGBTQ+
Newport Beach Film Festival Tickets
There are six ways to attend the NBFF:
- Standard Ticket (after 5 pm): Standard tickets are $20 / screening and are available online or at the door.
- Standard Ticket (before 5 pm): Standard tickets for screenings before 5pm are $15 / screening.
- Spotlight Films + Party: Spotlight tickets are $50 / screening and are available online or at the door.
- Spotlight Light Films (w/o party): Spotlight tickets are $25 / screening and are available online or at the door.
- Short Films: Tickets to short films are $10 / screening and are available online or at the door.
- Party Only: Tickets to special events and parties are $30 and are available online or at the door.
Purchase tickets online at NBFF or at the door.
Film Festival after-parties and the Opening and Closing night gala events are 21+, with no exceptions, as they feature hosted bars.
Newport Beach Film Festival Volunteer & Internship
The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and are looking for volunteers each year. Simply create a Volunteer Account to get started.
The Festival’s internship program offers college students and recent alumni interested in entertainment, the arts, and marketing a fabulous opportunity to gain valuable first-hand experience in event planning, production, and promotion. Apply to be an intern at NBFF.
Where to Stay
The VEA Newport Beach, Balboa Bay Resort, Pelican Hill, Marriott Bayview, Lido House Hotel and the Marriott Newport Villas are local hotel options to consider.
See also our guide to Newport Beach Hotels.
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