Not just movies at festival

The 2006 Newport Beach Film Festival will offer free seminars, Will Ferrell and the West Coast premiere of the star-studded film “Neverwas.”

The festival schedule, released Tuesday, includes more than 350 feature films, shorts, documen- taries and animated films from 40 countries around the world, including Mexico, Korea, Ireland and France. The festival will run from April 20 to 30.

“Every year we try and bring the best international cinema to Orange County,” said executive director Gregg Schwenk. “We have some amazing films this year, and the international spotlights are a reflection of the strength of this.”

This year the festival is offering free seminars that will allow moviegoers to interact with those involved in the films.

The “youth division” at the event will exhibit the works of student filmmakers under 18. Comedian and Orange County native Will Ferrell will act as honorary chair for the young filmmakers event.

“We pride ourselves on giving a voice to student filmmakers so they can share their visions,” Schwenk said.

The 11-day festival will com- mence at the Edwards Big New- port theater with “Neverwas,” a psychological mystery starring Aaron Eckhart, William Hurt, Jessica Lange, Brittany Murphy, Ian McKellen and Nick Nolte.

The film follows a Yale grad- uate who begins working at a mental institution that houses his father, a novelist, and explores the boundaries between madness and fantasy.

Other features include “The Amateurs” on April 22, starring Ted Danson and Jeff Bridges, a comedy about a group of small-town guys who attempt to make an adult film; “Art School Confidential” on April 23, starring John Malkovich and Angelica Huston; and a surf film, “Separate Volume” on April 21.

In the international depart- ment, the Irish film “Tara Road” on April 26 and Korea’s “Typhoon” on April 25 will have their North American premieres.

The festival will close on Balboa’s Lido Theater with “The Illusionist” on April 27, starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel and Paul Giamatti. The mystery follows a magician who uses his talents to move up in the world by winning the heart of a woman.

An awards ceremony following the screenings will honor the best films while offering the audience a chance to pick its favorite.

Schwenk recommends that moviegoers plan ahead, as almost every venue will sell out. He also recommends that people “take advantage of the free seminars and try something new.”

Event organizers expect an attendance of somewhere near 33,000 this year, in part because the Oscar success of “Crash” ? which had its U.S. premiere at the 2005 festival ? raised the event’s profile.

Tickets for general screenings are $10, “spotlight screenings” are $40, and admission for opening night is $125.

The festival venues for this year are the Edwards Big New- port, Edwards Island Cinemas, Regency Lido Theater and the Orange County Museum of Art.

For more information, go to www.newportfilmfestival.com.