End of an Era: Newport Beach Film Festival to Close with "Behemoth!"

The 27th installment of the Newport Beach Film Festival is set to conclude on Oct. 22 with the film "Behemoth!" attending the festival will be Tony Gilroy, a distinguished writer and director behind the project. The movie stars Pedro Pascal, portraying the soul-searching journey of a gifted cellist, Alex Serian, as he returns to Los Angeles following two decades of performing on the road. The premiere of the film is set for Dec. 4 and features a crew of nine composers. Moreover, "Behemoth!" production designer, Jade Healy, will be attending the closing night, contributing to a conversation with Gilroy before the screening.

Gregg Schwenk, the CEO and executive director of the festival, expressed delight about choosing "Behemoth!" as the concluding film, stating that it represents the perfect celebration of 27 years of the Newport Beach Film Festival's exceptional history. The movie encapsulates a deeply personal narrative about the sacrifices and demands music makes of its devotees. The presence of Gilroy and Healy promises an enriching interaction, offering a unique experience to the attendees.

The festival, running Oct. 15-22, features a variety of films, including “A Talent for Murder,” “Ink,” “Josephine,” “La Bola Negra,” “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” “Paper Tiger” and “Wild Horse Nine.” Moreover, "Jimmy", a biopic on Jimmy Stewart by Aaron Burns, will be part of the festival, with a Q&A session scheduled post-screening, attended by the cast and crew.

The Newport Beach Film Festival stands out for its magnitude as the most significant international cinema event in coastal Southern California, attracting over 50,000 attendees annually. The previous year's festival concluded with the Guillermo Del Toro's film "Frankenstein".