Lady LUX

Known as one of the top lifestyle film festivals across the United States, the Newport Beach Film Festival scours the world over to assemble the best of the best classic and contemporary filmmaking. From April 25 to May 2, the festival will feature a diverse range of new, local and international studio and independent movies, promoting cultural understanding and enriching education and, of course, providing stimulating entertainment.

Now in its 14th year, NBFF promises to lure some 50,000 odd filmgoers to Orange County to experience more than 350 films from across 50 countries from both fledgling and established filmmakers. Far more than just an assemblage of movies, the cinematic event includes nightly special affairs, red carpet galas, scintillating interactions with filmmakers, international spotlight affairs and seminars. Movie buffs can rub elbows with celebrities, international filmmakers and industry professionals. Working together with local community and educational organizations, the stylish affair encourages people of all backgrounds to study and appreciate the film industry.

Since its inception in 1999, the festival has showcased numerous critically acclaimed films, including “Crash,” “(500) Days of Summer,” “The Cove,” “Waitress,” “Son of Rambow,” “Paprika,” “Broken English,” “American Teen,” “Fugitive Pieces,” “Death Note: The Last Name,” “The King of Kong,” “Layer Cake,” “The Illusionist,” “Art School Confidential,” “Emmanuel’s Gift,” “Mad Hot Ballroom,” “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster,” “Spellbound,” “Castle in the Sky,” “Born into Brothels,” and “Pieces of April.” By means of tributes, special screenings and seminars, the film festival has noted such industry standouts as Aaron Sorkin, Haskell Wexler, Robert Wise, Henry Bumstead, Elmer Bernstein, John Waters, Alan Arkin, Bruce Brown, Richard Sherman, Penelope Spheeris and McG.

NBFF will get off to a roaring start with the West Coast premiere of “Broadway Idiot” – a documentary that takes a behind-the-scenes peek into how Green Day’s punk rock album American Idiot turned into a successful musical – followed by a gala reception at Fashion Island featuring a performance by Taylor Hicks. The film extravaganza will conclude with the West Coast premiere of “The Way, Way Back,” starring Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb and Toni Collette, a tale of a 14-year-old boy and the summer vacation he will never forget.

For more information, including the full lineup of films, visit www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/2013.

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