News Summary
Newport Beach will host the annual film festival featuring over 300 films, including local and international entries. Highlights include premieres of unique films, guest appearances, and an exciting after-party. The festival aims to engage a wide audience with diverse genres and stories over the course of a week.
Newport Beach is set to host the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival from October 16 to October 23, featuring over 300 films, including many short subjects. This year’s festival will showcase a mix of local and international films, highlighting diverse stories and genres that aim to engage a wide audience.
Among the festival’s highlighted films is “Theater is Dead,” a darkly comic suspense thriller that follows an engineering student named Willow, who becomes entangled in a theater production unearthing sinister secrets. This film is poised to have its Orange County Premiere at the festival, with screenings scheduled for October 17 and 20. Director Katherine Dudas and select cast and crew will attend these screenings.
Another noteworthy film, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” directed by Elizabeth Guest, presents a love-addict character named Lydia as she navigates the complexities of romance and personal struggles. This film is based on a web series by the director and will screen on October 18.
The festival will also host the U.S. premiere of “A Quiet Love,” which explores the real-life stories of three deaf couples using Irish Sign Language. This film will be screened on October 20, accompanied by a Q&A session with the producers.
The festival introduces a subgenre called Cinema on Cinema, focusing on influential filmmakers and actors. Notable screenings in this category include “Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp”, which reflects on Charlie Chaplin’s Gypsy heritage, screening on October 18. Additionally, “Charles Grodin: Rebel With a Cause” will document Grodin’s advocacy for justice for wrongly convicted individuals, with screenings set for October 18 and 20. The life of Oscar-winning director William Wyler will be showcased with “William Wyler, Willie Forty Takes”, screening on October 19.
Local films featured in the festival include “Sin City: Newport Beach,” giving a historical overview of Newport Beach in the 1920s and 30s, with a screening on October 21. “Harbour Chronicles: Shaping a Legacy”, tells the story of surfing icon Rich Harbour and will screen on October 19 and 20.
The festival will also highlight various fashion films, including “Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailors Dreams” and “Akris: Fashion With a Heritage,” with screenings on October 19 and 18 respectively. Culinary enthusiasts can look forward to “Raoul’s, A New York Story,” celebrating a renowned New York restaurant, which will be screened on October 18.
Kicking off the festival, Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon” featuring Ethan Hawke, will have its opening night screening on October 16. The festival will conclude with Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” on October 23. Special guest Jacob Elordi is set to receive the Maverick Award during the festival for his performance in “Frankenstein.”
Over 100 feature films and 250 shorts from 32 countries will be presented, with expected attendance of approximately 50,000 throughout the week. Events supporting the festival will include collaborations with Fashion Island and StyleWeekOC, featuring a talk and signing by authors Sophie Ansari, Penn Badgley, and Nava Kavelin on October 18. An exciting after-party is scheduled at Fashion Island, complete with live entertainment, food tastings, and specialty cocktails.
Tickets for the festival are currently available for purchase on the Newport Beach Film Festival website, inviting film enthusiasts to experience this vibrant celebration of cinema.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Documentary ‘Stronger Than You Think’ Chronicles Inspiring Journey
Community Opposition Grows Against Newport Beach Surf Park Proposal
Orange County Reports Restaurant Closures and Reopenings
Halloween Events in Orange County
Orphaned Mountain Lion Cubs Highlight Wildlife Safety Issues
Huntington Beach Hosts Brad Pitt for New Film Production
Jocelyn Nguyen Shines in ‘Visions of Pop’ Concert
Orange County Health Inspectors Enforce Food Vendor Closures
Costa Mesa Celebrates the Arts: A 25-Year Legacy Recognized
Newport Beach Film Festival to Showcase Diverse Films
Additional Resources
- Newport Beach Indy
- Hollywood Reporter
- Variety
- Los Angeles Times
- Gold Derby
- Wikipedia: Newport Beach Film Festival
- Google Search: Newport Beach Film Festival
- Google Scholar: Newport Beach Film Festival
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Newport Beach Film Festival
- Google News: Newport Beach Film Festival
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
