Newport Beach Film Festival (22)

Festival start: 21 October 2021      Festival end: 15 April 2021

Due to COVID-19 we are moving our festival to October so we may have a live event. Join us October 21 - 28, 2021 for the Newport Beach Film Festival’s (NBFF) 22nd Year. Internationally recognized as one of Southern California’s leading film events, we host eight days of 350+ film screenings, 58,000+ attendees, engaging networking opportunities, industry seminars, incredible nightly galas, private receptions, entertainment, and more!

Film, food, industry, and culture in the heart of Newport Beach. Join us for a fantastic and celebratory year!

~ 10 Reasons Why Filmmakers Choose NBFF ~

Scale: Promote your latest project at one of Southern California’s largest film events! Showcasing over 350 films to an audience of 58,000 people each year, NBFF provides a great platform to spread the word about your film!

Destination: Showcase your film in one of the most incredible coastal destinations in the world! There is plenty to do, see, and explore in the beautiful city of Newport Beach. We want our filmmakers to get to know us and the city that makes our Festival such a unique and special experience.

Programming Team: Our programming team is here to support you throughout the entire Festival process. A filmmaker’s greatest resource, NBFF programmers help with everything from the marketing of your film to the enhancement of your Newport Beach experience. Our team deeply cares about Filmmakers, their process, and the creative integrity of filmmaking; we want you to have the best Festival experience possible!

Comprehensive Reviewing Process: Rest assured that your film is getting the proper respect it deserves! Each film submission is thoroughly reviewed at least five times in its entirety prior to Festival selection.

Screening Experience: Showcase your film the way it was intended to be seen! Expect an engaged and excited audience in a wide array of world class location theaters. Get your audience even more involved with an in-person Q&A after each film screening.

Industry Network: Build meaningful connections with industry insiders eager to meet and interact at our nightly gala events, private receptions, and industry seminars! Our proximity to LA allows filmmakers to interact with industry professionals including sales agents, distributors, financiers, and leading production personnel.

Global Presence: Our attendees travel from around the world to watch our international spotlights. International films are partnered with regional organizations to help promote and support their success.

Hosted Seminars: Engage in a thoughtful, up-close, and personal discussion of a variety of film topics with acclaimed industry professionals. Learn the latest tricks of the trade in screenwriting, directing, editing, acting, cinematography, film financing, casting, and virtual reality from leaders within the filmmaking community!

Accreditation: Irish Film & Television Academy accreditation!

And We’re Fun!

Incredible Nightly Galas: NBFF is renowned for its unforgettable nightly galas that feature food, drink, music, and live entertainment! We want to support the success of our filmmaking community while providing our guests with an incredible Festival experience. At NBFF, we bridge the gap between industry and lifestyle.

Audience Award:
- Narrative Feature
- Documentary Feature
- Action Sports
- Art, Architecture & Design
- Family Film
- Short Film
- Music

Jury Award:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Cinematography
- Best Director
- Best Screenwriter
- Best Documentary
- Best Documentary - Honorable Mention
- Best Narrative –-Short Film
- Best Narrative - Short Film Honorable Mention
- Best Documentary - Short Film
- Best Documentary - Short Film Honorable Mention
- Best Animated - Short Film
- Best Animated - Short Film Honorable Mention

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking:
- Directing
- Feature Film
- Acting
- Screenwriting
- Ensemble Cast
- Foreign Film
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Short Film
- Foreign Short Film
- Documentary Short Film
- Animated Short Film
- Breakout Performance
- Music Video

Please submit the following for each submission:

1) Link/password to your film for reviewing
2) Screenshot (no writing) from you film/ Minimum 6x4" @ 300 dpi
3) Synopsis of your film
4) Valid email and phone number for us to use to contact you. YOU MUST CONTACT US DIRECTLY IF THIS CHANGES! PLEASE BE AWARE ALL CONTACT IS DONE WITH THE EMAIL SUBMITTED.

***ACCEPTED FILMS MUST BE AVAILABLE IN DCP FORMAT FOR EXHIBITION:
- Digital Cinema Package (DCP)
- (Music Video and Youth are the ONLY exceptions)

Entries received late or incomplete may be disqualified

We WILL email you directly upon receiving and processing your submission, if you have not been emailed your submission was not received.

Entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, royalties, release forms, clearances, and permits necessary to present their work. The Newport Beach Film Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work. Every precaution will be taken to safeguard all materials sent to the festival; however NBFF is not responsible for damage to submitted materials incurred by shipping to or from the festival.

Submitted films must be available for exhibition as:

Digital Cinema Package (DCP) – (Does not apply to Music Video and Youth categories)
Films submitted must be available in English or in the original language with English subtitles. Accepted films must be available in the designated exhibition format, Digital Cinema Package if not Music or Youth categories.

Films must not screen in the U.S. in theaters, air on U.S. television, or be available to U.S. consumers in stores or via the internet before April 15, 2021.

The number(s), date(s), time(s), and locations of the screenings of films are subject to the discretion of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The exhibition copy supplier will be responsible for the cost of the shipment to the Newport Beach Film Festival. The Newport Beach Film Festival will return the print postage prepaid to the supplier or to the next destination as indicated by the supplier (Features only). Entry materials and/or Short films will not be returned.

The Newport Beach Film Festival takes the utmost care in the handling of your entry. The Newport Beach Film Festival does not pay additional charges for originals, masters, or special prints.

Notifications will be emailed. All correspondence will be done through email, only through the original submitter. Please insure that you have provided us with your correct/valid email and a valid phone number.