In spite of our professed regional loyalty to Marin, there’s no denying the allure of Orange County. With palm trees, tons of swimmable beaches, world-class shopping and balmy weather, life behind the Orange Curtain doesn’t seem too shabby. But now there is a different set of curtains that’s garnering the county a lot of attention — movie theater curtains. The Newport Beach Film Festival, now in its 19th year, has become the fastest growing film festival in the nation, drawing over 55,000 attendees. The festival shows bigscreen features as well as action sports film debuts and, much like the Mill Valley Film Festival, hosts galas and awards ceremonies. Beyond film, the fest also holds an in-depth architecture and design series focused on the United Kingdom. Catch some flicks while you nab some rays; the fun begins on April 26 and goes through May 3.
This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition under the headline: “SoCal Cannes“.
