27th Newport Beach Film Festival announces Irish Showcase, Premieres and Irish Spotlight celebration
Posted: 25th September 2026
The 27th annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) has proudly announced its 2026 Irish Showcase, the largest celebration of Irish cinema in North America scheduled to take place during its eight-day run in Southern California. Highlights include the 2026 Irish Spotlight event, red carpet premieres, nine Irish feature-length films, twenty-one Irish short films and the participation of Irish filmmakers and dignitaries. The Newport Beach Film Festival Irish Showcase is supported by Screen Ireland.
On Sunday, October 18th, the 27th annual Newport Beach Film Festival will present its Irish Spotlight, an evening celebration of Irish cinema and culture. The event will feature the major premieres of the films Trad, The Body is Water, and You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead, followed by a festive celebration of Irish culture and cuisine.
Directed by Vicky Wight and starring Isiah Whitlock Jr., Saoirse-Monica Jackson, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, The Body is Water will make its World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival. This drama tells the story of a grieving man, yearning to disappear, as he travels to a remote village on the west coast of Ireland. There, he finds himself drawn into the lives of a close-knit community, an eccentric young woman, and her curious dog—all of whom refuse to let him fade away.
The Festival will also host the North American Premiere of Lance Daly's Trad, and the Californian Premiere of Dallan Shovlin's You’ll Never Believe Who’s Dead.
Steven Davenport, Head of Inward Production, Screen Ireland, said:
"Screen Ireland is proud to support the Newport Beach Film Festival’s annual Irish Spotlight. This year’s programme showcases some of the best of Irish talent and locations on the big screen - from comedy to drama; documentary to animation; and established filmmakers to new exciting voices in the short film landscape. We hope Californian and international audiences enjoy discovering this year’s selection of exceptional Irish stories.”
Gregg Schwenk, CEO, Newport Beach Film Festival said:
The Newport Beach Film Festival is deeply honored to celebrate Irish cinema and culture through our Irish Showcase, which has grown into one of the most significant celebrations of Irish filmmaking in North America. Our longstanding partnerships with Screen Ireland, Culture Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles, and leading Irish film and cultural organizations have enabled us to build an extraordinary platform for Irish filmmakers and storytellers at every stage of their careers. This year’s program reflects the remarkable depth, creativity, and diversity of contemporary Irish cinema. We are incredibly proud to bring these exceptional films, artists, and voices to our Festival audience.”
In addition to the Irish Showcase selections, the Newport Beach Film Festival will screen several feature narratives, documentaries, and short films representing the best in contemporary Irish cinema, including Screen Ireland-supported projects Julián, The Siege of Paradise, Try!, Punt, Bad Luck, Capall, Somebody Told Me, Magic Markers, The Ick, Emergency Accommodation, Grace, Punt and Violent Volition.
The Newport Beach Film Festival Irish Showcase is supported by Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Consulate General of Ireland - Los Angeles, Irish Arts & Entertainment, Irish Film & Television Academy, the Irish Film Institute’s IFI International Programme, Galway Film Fleadh, Irish American Magazine, Contemporary Irish Arts Center Los Angeles, Ireland Week, Pub Thirty Two, and Muldoon’s Irish Pub and Guinness.
The 27th Newport Beach Film Festival takes place 15th-22nd October.