Directors and film talent make a rare OC appearance

Costa Mesa, CA- Approximately 200 guests mixed and mingled at a private fund raising party and kick-off celebration for the 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival at OC’s hippest eatery, Mesa, on Tuesday, April 21st. The event was hosted by NEXT@theBarclay, a non-profit group made up of young professional men and women who host events in support of Orange County arts and culture. The proceeds from the event will benefit The Newport Beach Film Festival andIrvine Barclay Theater.

Newport Beach Film Festival Executive Director Gregg Schwenk and Programmer Leslie Feibleman were on hand to introduce a few of this year’s participating filmmakers, including Nino Scalia (“Street Dreams”), Anna Chi (“Dim Sum Funeral”), Brent Huff (“Cat City”), Tate Taylor (“Pretty Ugly People”) Doug Pray (“Art & Copy”), Stephen Latty (“The Drum Inside Your Chest”), Drake Doremus (“Spooner”) and Sam Bozzo (“Blue Gold: World Water Wars”). Each of the directors gave a synopsis of their film and discussed what inspired them to become filmmakers while clips of each film ran behind them.

A since of Orange County pride could be felt throughout the evening. “There are film festival parties and then there are film festival parties. We’re here to represent and support the film festival in our own backyard…the Newport Beach Film Festival,” said NEXT President George Webb. “Evening with the Directors is a perfect opportunity for film lovers to meet the directors and talk about all things film.”

Mesa Chef Michael Doutt prepared a smorgasbord of appetizers such as Fried Cicchetti Olives, Tempura Style Crunchy Green Beans, Pomme Frites, assorted wood oven pizzas and tomato and Arugula salad. Mesa Proprietor Peter Jaisel created a special Martini for the Newport Beach Film Festival: a Rosewater Cosmopolitan. The event’s notable guests included film actor Victor Webster (“Dirty Love”), film maker Sean Flynn, fashion designer Frank Delgadillo, Irvine Barclay Theater President Douglas C. Rankin and Raj Manufacturing Co-Presidents Alex Bhathal and Lisa Vogel.

As in years past the Evening with the Directors Dinner was an extremely successful event that allowed local supporters of the arts to mingle with the creative minds behind some of this year’s most notable film makers. The Newport Beach Film Festival begins Thursday, April 23rd with films being shown at the Edwards Island Cinema and the Lido Theater. For a complete schedule and show times visit www.newportbeachfilmfest.com