by chris carpenter –
Smile for the camera Newport Beach Film Festival, it’s your birthday! Begun as a small-scale event initially, NBFF will be celebrating 20 years of stellar growth in local repute and international recognition from Thursday, April 25 through Thursday, May 2.
Each year, the festival strives to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program, organizers provide a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, showcasing a diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the world.
NBFF’s global focus isn’t reflected only by the movies shown, but in nightly parties and receptions offered as well. An Irish Showcase Celebration will be Sunday, April 28’s main event, with other nights devoted to Latin, European and Pacific Rim people and places.
In addition to standard film fest categories like narrative features, documentaries and family films, NBFF has developed several unique showcases over the years. These include movies centered on culinary subjects, action sports, architecture, music and the environment.
Notably, NBFF’s growth over the last 20 years has paralleled a broader interest in and mainstream acceptance of LGBTQ films. A number of productions with LGBTQ appeal are screened during the fest each year. Although the 2019 feature film lineup had not been announced at press time, organizers shared with The Rage Monthly a whopping 80-plus LGBTQ short films in a variety of genres and styles that will be shown.
Here is a mere sampling of these many fantastic-sounding shorts:
Older Than What? – A documentary that brings LGBTQ elders sharply into focus with humor, frankness, wit and charm. Twelve seniors answer questions about aging and share stories about how they made history.
Like Glass – A club kid grappling with their identity finds liberation in N.Y.C. nightlife, while haunted by the pressures of societal norms.
Black Hat – Shmuel is a pious Hasidic man leading a fairly simple life. By day, he dutifully prays at the local synagogue and manages a busy dry cleaning business. But when his wife and daughters leave town, Shmuel steps out at night into a more complex world. When he misplaces his black hat along the way, his two lives will interconnect in a way he never expected.
Black Lips – A lonely abalone trader is awakened by a longing he’s never explored before.
Swimming – A coming-of-age story of an American-born Chinese teen trying to handle her possible homosexuality when her three-month-old half-sister seems to have stolen the attention of the entire family.
Aphrodite – A crossdresser driven by her dream of becoming a singer puts her own sexual identity at stake for an uncertain opportunity to shine in Hollywood.
As One – A short documentary created by Orange County filmmakers explaining why Pride festivals are still important today.
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin –A feature documentary exploring the remarkable life and legacy of ground-breaking science-fiction and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 88.
Blush – A guy and his girlfriend are forced to navigate new territory when he’s caught wearing her dress.
The Buttcheek Boys – An animated spoof in which brothers Billy and Bobby Buttcheek do their damndest to solve a really big case.
You Say Hello – A suicidal young gay man retreats to his family’s beach house to end his life, but a chance encounter with a hustler changes his plans.
My Dad Works the Night Shift (Mon père travaille de nuit) – Felix, a 14-year-old boarding school student, spends the weekend at his conservative father’s house. Felix starts a relationship with a much older boy, secretly hoping he will get caught so he can reveal his homosexuality to his father.
Hank – Recent L.A. transplants Hank and his husband Tommy attempt to save their 15- year marriage by entertaining the idea of an open relationship. While this might be working well for Tommy, Hank struggles to cope with the change as well as the challenges of being old.
I’ve Been Thinking – When Julian gets a boyfriend, his best friend Josh realizes it’s time to reveal how he really feels. A romantic dramedy about a friendship that becomes something more, and the seeming impossibility of a perfect union.
Mack Wrestles – Mack Beggs broke records and changed history when he won the Texas state title as a transgender wrestler. Now, with high school ending and college on the horizon, the sports champion, national activist and high school hero must grapple with what comes next in this documentary.
Three Corner House – The lives of a suspicious wife, closeted husband and sex-obsessed son collide. Starring Michael J. Burg (BlacKKKlansman, Vinyl), Russell Koplin (Iron Fist, The Last) and Kathryn Kates (Orange is the New Black, Law & Order).
Out of the Shadows – A theatre class at California State University Long Beach creates a play to tell the stories of undocumented immigrants, some of whom are LGBTQ.
Silverlake Afternoon – Michael is 33 and he’s never been with a guy. His first encounter is going to be awkward…and also kinda great.
Broken Sunflower Hearts – When his ex-boyfriend Sam shows up on his doorstep a year after separating, Anthony weighs the impact it will have on his life and young daughter, Luna.
Headlock – John, a closeted high school athlete, grapples with his attraction to a teammate in the days leading up to prom.
All Cock & No Bull! – Relaxing in your backyard is one thing. Relaxing naked in your backyard with an old friend is something else entirely and may have consequences.
Homecoming – When a college sophomore returns home to share some important news with his parents, things don’t go exactly as he had expected… until they do.
Stay Tonight – This romantic dramedy follows the lives of two men who grew up together in Brooklyn, New York. Michael is bisexual and Tony is heterosexual. As life moves on, however, both men find themselves in a difficult situation that requires difficult decisions.
Hiding in Daylight – After a gay purge in the not too distant future, four best friends are surviving by living in fake marriages, to each other. They secretly meet once a week to see their true spouse and play a “game” where they reminisce about their former, openly gay lives. One night emotions run high, friendships begin to unravel, and everything changes in an instant.
One Leg In, One Leg Out – Documentary in which a lively, strong-willed sex worker struggles to move from the streets and into a career as a social worker, hoping to help fellow trans sex workers find acceptance.
Mr. Sam – Today is a big day for Mr. Sam. Not only is he going to reveal to his mother that he’s finally found the love of his life, he’s also telling her that he’s gay. But, Sam is in for a huge surprise; the secret he has managed to keep hidden from everyone for so long will be revealed in the most dramatic of ways by his best friend, Sandra.
Sequins – 17-year-old Paul’s journey of self-discovery takes a unique turn when he embarks on his ambition to become a drag queen, despite fear of ridicule from his peers and being ostracized by his family.
Land’s End – Set in a bleak and poetic world on England’s southeast coast, this explores the magnetic relationship between Adam, a naïve but hopeful young man and Michael, a charismatic ex-con and drag artist.
The Newport Beach Film Festival features 100 narrative and documentary feature films, 200 short films and music videos and 65 culinary partners at 12 festival parties from Thursday, April 25 through Thursday, May 2.
For a full schedule of films and events or to purchase individual tickets or festival passes, call 949.253.2880 or go to newportbeachfilmfest.com.