23rd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Announces Irish Showcase, Premieres and Celebration
Posted: 6th October 2022
Newport Beach, California (October 2022) – Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is delighted to support the announcement of the programme of the 23rd annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF), which will present the largest celebration of Irish Cinema in North America during its eight-day run (October 13th – 20th, 2022) in Southern California. Highlights include an Irish Showcase event, red carpet premieres, ten Irish feature length films, the US premiere of Ireland’s foreign Oscar submission, thirteen Irish short films and the participation of Irish filmmakers and dignitaries.
On Sunday, October 16th, 2022, the festival will present its Irish Spotlight, an evening celebration of Irish cinema and culture. The event will feature the premiere of three highly acclaimed Screen Ireland supported films, The Ghost of Richard Harris, An Cailín Ciúin and Joyride, followed by a festive celebration of Irish culture and cuisine. The Irish Spotlight films will screen at Edwards Big Newport (300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA). The post-screening celebration will take place at Muldoon’s Irish Pub (202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA) and will feature live music and hosted hors d'oeuvres.
The festival will host the North American Premiere of Screen Ireland supported documentary The Ghost of Richard Harris, directed by Adrian Sibley and starring Jared Harris, Damien Harris, and Jamie Harris. Perhaps the greatest actor Ireland has produced, the once famous Hollywood star and notorious hellraiser Richard Harris still lives in the hearts of his countrymen and his three sons who have thought about him every day, since his unexpected death 20 years ago. They are still in search of, and argue about, who he really was—a complex and flawed genius.
The festival will also present the US Premiere of the award-winning film An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl), written and directed by Colm Bairéad. Selected as Ireland's Oscar submission for 2023 Best International Feature, An Cailín Ciúin stars Catherine Clinch, Carrie Crowley and Andrew Bennett. Set in rural Ireland in the early 1980’s this powerful film reflects the gentle strength of family in all its forms. A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one.
The Irish Showcase program will feature the US Premiere of Joyride directed by Emer Reynolds and starring Olivia Colman, Charlie Reid, Lochlann O'Mearáin,Olwen Fouéré, David Pearse, and Aislín McGucklin. The film follows Joy, a train-wreck on an adventure who is ready to give away her new-born baby. Joined by a cheeky street urchin, they are two diamonds in the rough on the run.
In addition to the Irish Spotlight selections, the festival will screen three further Screen Ireland supported films throughout its course.
Directed by Frank Berry, the Irish immigration drama Aisha stars Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor. While caught for years in Ireland's immigration system, Aisha Osagie develops a close friendship with former prisoner Conor Healy. This friendship soon looks to be short lived as Aisha's future in Ireland comes under threat. Aisha will be making its west coast premiere at the festival.
The psychological thriller from Ireland Nocebo, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, delves into topics about consumerism, human exploitation, the fast-paced fashion industry, and the power of the brain and the decision whether to hurt or heal the physical body. Nocebo stars Eva Green, Mark Strong and Chai Fonacier.
In the Irish drama Róise and Frank, (Mo Ghrá Buan) directed by Rachel Moriarty and Peter Murphy, Irish actress Bríd Ní Neachtain plays a widow who has given up on life and becomes convinced that a stray dog is the reincarnation of her Hurling-loving husband.
Additionally, a number of feature narrative, documentary and short films representing the strongest contemporary Irish cinema will screen at the festival, including Luke Hanlon's The Troubles, a Dublin Story, Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin, Sean Duggan's Keep it a Secret and Lila Schmitz's The Job of Songs.
Films screening in the 2022 Festival Irish Short Programs will include two shorts from Screen Ireland's latest Focus and Frameworks round which premiered at this year's Galway Film Fleadh.
Directed by James Fitzgerald, Bad Boy Buck tells the story of Buck, a married farmer attempts to hide his one-night stand with a man from his family as the truth drives him to breaking point.
In the animated short Regular Rabbit, written and directed by Eoin Duffy, the life of a seemingly innocent rabbit is thrown into turmoil. Is he capable of the sadistic horrors described, or is he simply a rabbit, a Regular Rabbit?
Other Irish short films screening as part of the programme are An Irish Goodbye, Bestial Ones, Burn it All, Faces, First Date, Imbas Forosnai, Mildly Different, Not My Sister, Regular Rabbit, The Oubliette, Throw Your Heart Over First and Warts & All.
The Newport Beach Film Festival Irish Showcase is presented by Guinness and supported by Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland and The Joseph A. Lynch Trust in partnership with, Consulate General of Ireland - Los Angeles, Aer Lingus, The Irish Herald, Irish Arts & Entertainment, Irish Film and Television Academy, Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Irish American Magazine, Kerrygold, Celtic Nations Magazine, Irish Screen America, Ireland Week, Irish Fair Foundation, and Muldoon’s Irish Pub.
Louise Ryan, Head of Marketing & Communications at Screen Ireland, said:
"We are proud to support the Newport Beach Film Festival as an international sponsor and to see this 23rd edition reinforce its strong ties with Irish cinema. We are absolutely delighted that Newport attendees will be able to see some of the best films that Irish film, documentary and shorts have to offer this year, which are a strong representative of the creativity of Irish cinema in 2022."
Marcella Smyth, Consul General of Ireland - South Western United States, said:
“The strength of Irish cinema is reflected in the diverse and broad range of features and shorts included as part of this year’s spotlight. From the US premiere of An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl), Ireland's entry for Best International Feature at Oscars 2023 to the heart-warming and moving story of grief and loss in Róise and Frank, these are stories that will leave no one untouched nor in any doubt as to the talent, originality and imaginativeness within Irish film. Newport Beach Film Festival continues to be a true celebration of film and the showcase of exceptional stories.”
Gar O'Brien, Head of Film & Television, Irish Film & Television Academy, said:
“Newport Beach Film Festival is well-known for platforming highly-anticipated, critically acclaimed cinema, from both at home and abroad, as well as having a reputation for unearthing some real hidden gems. But it is also a unique forum for enriching cross-cultural understanding and sharing experiences through the power of cinema. Its annual Irish Spotlight is a perfect example of this - showcasing the best in New Irish cinema to its discerning audiences, as well as bringing Irish film creatives together with industry peers at the festival, and of course reflecting the culture of the strong Irish community in Southern California.”
Gregg Shwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, said:
“The Festival is extremely proud to showcase outstanding Irish Cinema. We are honored to host the most comprehensive collection of Irish films in North America. This year’s program reflects the exceptionally strong creative talent in Ireland.”
About the Newport Beach Film Festival
The 23rd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival will take place October 13 – 20, 2022. Recognized as one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States, the Festival brings an international curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the beautiful Southern California coast. Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture, cinematic excellence and engages the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists. Spotlighting over 300 films, the Festival will host nightly parties and the NBFF Honors event featuring Variety’s ‘10 Actors to Watch’ program.The Newport Beach Film Festival is sponsored in part by UCI Health, Morgan Stanley, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Visit Newport Beach, Fashion Island, Aston Martin and the City of Newport Beach. Learn more and get ticket information here.