Newport Beach Film Festival comes alive with Peter Frampton documentary, opening night party
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The gusty Santa Ana winds died down long enough for Orange County cinephiles to enjoy opening night of the Newport Beach Film Festival on Thursday.
Now in its 27th year, the festival welcomed director Rob Arthur and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Frampton to Regal Edwards Big Newport movie theater for a screening of the documentary film “Frampton.”
The film traces the remarkable career of its subject, a renowned British musician known for his ground-breaking 1976 double album, “Frampton Comes Alive.” Viewers are taken through Frampton’s early trajectory into fame through his final tour and diagnosis of a degenerative muscle condition, inclusion body myositis, that threatened his ability to play guitar.
Arthur and Frampton walked the red carpet ahead of the screening and participated in a live Q&A after the film.
“Everybody loved it and a lot of people said it was their favorite opening night film,” said Todd Quartararo, co-founder of the Newport Beach Film Festival. “What an incredible experience to actually have the legendary Peter Frampton in the house.”
The Newport Beach Film Festival was founded in 1999 by Quartararo and Gregg Schwenk and has since grown into one of the largest international cinema events in coastal Southern California, drawing over 56,000 attendees to Orange County.
“There is a film for everybody. We have over 350 films,” said Quartararo. “A lot of people are under the impression that if they are not in the film industry they can’t attend, but this event is open to everyone in our entire community.”
Highlights from this year’s festival, which continues through Oct. 22, include the James Gray crime drama “Paper Tiger,” starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, the Danny Boyle-directed biopic “Ink,” starring Jack O’Connell as Larry Lamb and Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch in story of the evolution of British tabloid “The Sun,” and the West Coast premiere of “Jimmy,” which casts KJ Apa as actor Jimmy Stewart.
Following the opening night film at Big Newport, attendees headed across the street to Fashion Island for a glamorous gala, presented in partnership with StyleWeekOC, celebrating the theme of “Sunlit Glamoratti” this year.
The party included musical entertainment from a marching band and live DJ-violinist along with bites and beverages from local Newport Beach restaurants Sushi Roku, Levain Bakery, True Food Kitchen, Telefèric Barcelona and more.
“We have a packed house with people from over 50 countries coming in to visit, enjoy and find what a great destination Newport Beach is,” Quartararo said.
The festival will close on Oct. 22 at the Sherman Library and Gardens with a premiere screening of “Behemoth!”
Partially filmed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, “Behemoth!” stars Pedro Pascal as gifted cellist Alex Serian, who returns home to Los Angeles after 20 years of touring.
Prior to the film screening, “Behemoth!” writer-director Tony Gilroy will participate in a live taping of the Los Angeles Times “In Conversation” podcast along with production designer, Jade Healy.
For tickets and additional information, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.
