Here's your Insiders Guide to the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival, with Special Ticket deals, inside information, schedules, suggested attire, background dope and a commentary or two. Special Deals on Tickets - see information below !!

Thursday Update:  

All things must come to a close... no matter how fun and exciting they are !!  Click Here for an article about today's Films and the grand Closing Party at the Lido Theatre.  Click Here for $75 Tickets to the closing Film and Party.  Film at 7:00, Party starts at 8:00pm. They start the Party before the Film lets out, gives people more time to shop the stores there.

The Special Deal:  Walk up Tickets for Tonight's Closing Party will be available at the door for only $20, proceeds going to the American Red Cross - Japan Relief. Click Here for that Charity Invitation, bring it with you.   

NOTE:  The Closing Party tonight is across the street from Lido Theater, in Lido Village with the cobblestone shops, not around the Theater as in the past.

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Between April 28 - May 5, the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival will showcase more than 350 films from around the world, offering an ambitious and international selection of features, shorts, documentaries and animation that will compete for both Jury and Audience awards.  This Festival has grown steadily in prominence, and has reached international acclaim and recognition.  This year there will be seminars, family film series, collegiate showcase, & a youth film showcase.

Now in its 12th year, the Festival is proud to treat its audience to World and U.S. premieres, Academy Award entries, Sundance Selections, a Spotlight Series, and Children's Festival, from both the independent and studio worlds. With submissions from Asia, Europe, South/Central America and Africa, classic and contemporary filmmaking will provide a unique mix of genre and culture.  As a result, the Newport Beach Film Festival has quickly gained recognition both from filmmakers and audiences, and is expected to attract more than 50,000 cinephiles in 2011.

This year the Island Theaters in Fashion Island are closed for renovation, and many of the films will be shown in the Starlight Cinemas at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa.

There are numerous parties and social mixers surrounding a variety of these events and screenings - get to rub elbows with the artists and fellow movie buffs.  They need volunteers and sponsors, too, and lots of them... it takes over 300 people to make this work.  The schedule of all that goes on is available on their website www.newportbeachfilmfest.com  For more information please call their office at (949) 253-2880.

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Ticket Deals

Tickets will be available at the door for tonight's Closing Party, regularly $50, only $20 if you have the invitation.  Charity to benefit Red Cross Japan Relief.   Click Here for the invite from Riviera Magazine, and bring it with you. 

The Special Hot Deal:  We are great friends with the Founders of the NBFF, and they have extended a special deal to our readers:  The Opening Night screening of East Fifth Bliss and afterwards the huge Opening Night Party with all the Filmmakers and Talent is usually $125... But our special rate is only $100 !!! About 20 local Restaurants provide complimentary food, and an open bar all night.... The Opening Party is one of the premiere events in Newport Beach each year, take advantage of this deal and don't miss it!!!  
Click Here for the Film Festival Page with the Special Price Tickets link.  Expired

The Even Hotter Special Deal:  There are two "Coupon" websites that are offering 2for1 Tickets to the Opening Night Party for $80 the pair !!  Just the Party, not the Movie, only $40 each.  Get on this, limited availability and deals due to expire midnight Tuesday 4/26. Click Here for deal from Daily Dealster   Expired 
Click Here for the deal from iCouponOnline  Expired 

Another Deal - You can get 2-for-1 Tickets for the Parties on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday Nights. The Tickets are for the Parties only, not for the Showcase Movie that night.  
$25 for 2 Tickets, this one is set to expire Wednesday midnight.
Click Here for the deal, courtesy of the Orange County Register  Expired     

Update Monday Morning - iCoupons and others have deals for 2-for-1 Tickets to the Sunday-Monday-Tuesday Showcase Parties in Fashion Island.  Only $25 for 2 Tickets, deals expire when they sell out.  This is for the Party each night only, not the movie.
 Click Here for the Sunday Night deal from iCouponOnline  Click Here for Dealster
 Click Here for the Monday Night deal from Daily Deals    Click Here for Screaming Deals
 Click Here for the Tuesday Night deal from Daily Deals   Click Here for Screaming Deals

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Here's some Additional information and Commentary: -    The Opening Night Film and Party is offered as BTO - Black Tie Optional.  Some will dress in Formal Attire, but the majority wear dressy casual.  The Party afterwards is outside, in the Bloomie's Courtyard - watch the weather and dress warm. -    The Opening Gala and all the after-parties start after the Films finish, and go until late.  Many of the Film people are here for the week, so they carry on until the food and liquor expire. -    You must buy tickets for each of the Films and Parties ahead of time - as far as I know, no tix will be sold at the door.  All of them will be Will Call, bring your receipts. -    Food and liquor are included at each of the parties.  Liquor is always plentiful, sometimes food not so much.   -    The Parties Sat-Tues and again on Closing Thursday are also outside - watch the weather and dress warmly. -    Get your Tickets ahead of time.  The NBFF folks are mostly volunteers and they will do their best to keep everything in order.  The Tickets for Parties Friday-Wednesday are $40 for the Special Movie de jour and the Party, and $25 just for the Party alone.  Closing night is $75 movie+party, $50 party alone. -    You never know who you might see and talk to here -- people from every facet and level of the Film business attend.  From the struggling filmmaker who sold his car to make his dream, to the Hollywood mogul, and finance and production and costumery and of course the fans, rabid and casual... all are here. Commentary on the Night Time Showcase Parties Click Here for our printable schedule of the nightly Showcase Parties. Movies usually start 7:30, Parties start at 9:30-10:00pm each night.  Tickets for most are $40 for Movie and Party, or $25 for Party alone. Thursday Night - Rocks !!  Red Carpet runway before the movie, and lots of A and B list Hollywood show up.  Party afterwards is a scene, outside with umpteen restaurants and lots of mingling.  Top Professional Fashion Show produced by Fashion Island.   Red Carpet arrivals start about 6:30pm, Movie starts at about 7:45, Party starts about 9:30pm. Friday Night - Upscale at Newport Lexus, veddy veddy nice.  Indoors. Girls wear the chic. Click Here for info on Friday Night Films and Party. Saturday Night - BIG event, inside and outside at Sports Club/LA.  Might get 1,500 people to this one.  More casual attire, indoors/mostly outdoors. Sports Club LA members get in free, and can bring one guest... but you must reserve by Friday.  Call or stop by the desk at SCLA. Click Here for Tickets. Sunday-Monday-Tuesday - Outside in the Koi Pond Courtyard by Atrium Court in Fashion Island.  Lots of mingling, food, liquor.  Dress warm. Click Here for Tickets. Wednesday - Muldoon's hosts the Irish afterparty, with comp food but no-host bar.   Canaletto's puts out a terrific Italian buffet, and open bar included.  Both Indoors.  Click Here for Tickets. Thursday 5/5 Closing Party - Around the Via Lido Theater on the Peninsula.  600-800 people.  Live DJ's and music/dancing.  Outside. Multiple restaurants and bars setup, all included. Goes until late.  Click Here for Tickets.  Special Deal from Riviera Magazine, only $20 at the door - Click Here for the invite, bring it with you. Comments, questions, additions:  email NBFF@bestOCevents.com

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