I recently had the chance to talk by phone with Academy Award winner Vanessa Roth about her new short documentary, The Girl and the Picture, that played at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film tells the story of Madame Xia, who as an eight year old girl survived the Nanjing Massacre (sometimes referred to… [Read More]
Day 7 (the finale) at NBFF
As the Newport Beach Film Festival comes to a close, I want to express my appreciation to the festival for allowing me to take part in so much over the last week. I also want to thank the staff and especially the volunteers for all the work they put in to make the festival run smoothly and for the hospitality they share.
Day 6 at NBFF
Why should people go to film festivals? Because it may be the only chance they get to see films like Meerkat Moonship. This South African film by Hanneke Schutte features wonderful cinematography and a story of overcoming fear to be able to embrace life. Young Gideonette de la Rey lives under a curse. All the… [Read More]
Day 5 at NBFF
I began Tuesday by watching Cardinals, a film directed by Grayson Moore and Aidan Shipley that was the Canadian Spotlight film on Friday night, . It is the story of a woman who has returned home after years in prison after being convicted of killing her neighbor in a drunk driving accident. But soon the… [Read More]
Day4 at NBFF
The interaction of news events and the journalists covering the events made up the focus of the first two films of the day. Another News Story, directed by Orban Wallace, follows the story of immigrants to Europe from the time they land on the Greek island of Lesbos as they work their way through various… [Read More]
Day 3 at NBFF
It certainly isn’t news that most films are made by men. Women have been working for the chance to be directors for a very long time. Half the Picture, a documentary by Amy Adrion, speaks with some of the women directors who have found success about the hurdles that they have faced. Among those interviewed are… [Read More]
Day 2 at NBFF
I always like to fit in some shorts at NBFF. From time to time I’ve seen shorts here that end up with Oscar nomination the following year. I started my day with a group of shorts called “Held Back & Shortly Set Free”, which was described in the program as “Insights into the human condition… [Read More]
Day 1 at NBFF
Welcome to the 19th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival. Over the next week over 350 films will be showing at various venues on the Orange Coast.
The Millionaires’ Unit – The Path of Honor and Glory
he Millionaire’s Unit, a documentary by Darroch Greer and Ron King, is a return to celebrating the virtues of a group of young, affluent American college students who understood that their privilege required responsibility, and became some of the first American aviators in the war.
Thursday (the final day) at NBFF
I’ve reached the final day of Newport Beach Film Festival. I’ve managed to take in a load of films, but there are a whole lot more I could get to.
