Reel attraction

Young Chang

Filmmakers Jimmy Gerum and Lance Winkel ended up crammed in the same

corner of the Newport Beach Film Festival’s kickoff reception Thursday.

Though from two different worlds -- Gerum flew in from Germany that

afternoon and Winkel drove over from Huntington Beach -- the unlikely

pair found their worlds colliding through the art of films.

Over crispy bites of lobster dumplings, green apple martinis and

vodka-spiked cranberry concoctions, the two filmmakers agreed that it

takes little more nowadays than a few hundred dollars, a camera and

determination to make a movie.

“We’re just having a discussion about how privileged we are to be

making films,” said Winkel, whose short work “Within an Endless Sky” is

part of the festival’s shorts lineup.

Gerum’s film, “As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me,” is the German

Spotlight feature to be screened among more than 70 others at the

festival today and next week.

That bond explained just why filmmakers, supporters, distributors and

even mere film lovers mingled like they all knew each other at the third

annual festival’s kickoff night, which featured an opening premiere of

“The Bank” sandwiched between a reception at the Newport Beach Marriott

Hotel and a late-night gala at the Four Seasons.

Though not as star-studded as last year’s kickoff, which was attended

by some cast members of “The Sting,” Executive Director Gregg Schwenk

said the purpose of the premiere and following gala was to celebrate the

next seven days of almost 200 total screenings and special events.

Limos snaked through Newport Center Drive on Thursday evening. Lights

circled the air above Big Edwards Newport in Fashion Island. Some wore

satin, some wore tuxes, a few even kept their sunglasses on indoors

because that’s just what glamorous people do.

When Jeanne Carmen, queen of B-movies, stepped out of her limo and

onto the Big Edwards grounds, flashing cameras and a crowd of

autograph-seeking fans turned the local theater into a veritable

Hollywood scene.

“I felt strongly that Newport Beach could be a center of culture and

could host a flowering of the arts,” said Leigh Steinberg, sponsor of the

festival with wife Lucy, on how the festival has grown in both number and

glitz.

The crowd included an artsy and political mix, with such guests as

Newport Beach County Supervisor Jim Silva, the Steinbergs, well-known

filmmakers of yesteryear and lesser-known filmmakers of tomorrow.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people and exchanging ideas and seeing

what other people are doing,” said Bill Elliston, producer of “The Broken

Wings of Elijah Footfalls,” to be screened today and Wednesday at the

festival.

Gabriel Judet-Weinshel, screenwriter, director and actor for the film,

admitted that he didn’t have the right shoes on and that he’s still

trying to master tying a tie.

“This is the first festival I’ve been at of this caliber,” said the

filmmaker, who had flown in from New York just hours earlier.

Meanwhile, veteran filmmaker Val Guest and his wife, actress Yolande

Donlan, ducked early into a theater at Big Edwards Newport to get

comfortable in their seats.

“We’re guests of honor,” said Guest, who will also give three talks

for the festival’s seminar series. “We always are really excited.”

Donlan said they’ve been to almost every festival around the world,

including Cannes, Sundance and Venice.

“But this is our favorite,” said the actress, known for her British

theater work but also such films as “Expresso Bongo” and “The

Adventurers.” “It’s cozy and intimate and still glamorous. And it’s not

snooty.”

Not even Steinberg, a longtime sponsor of the festival now, could hide

his enthusiasm at the thought of meeting the bigger stars. When asked

what he is most looking forward to this spring, Steinberg blurted out

bashfully, “John Waters.”

“It’s not impossible to think that the Newport Beach Film Festival

could take its place with Sundance and the best exhibitions in the

world,” he said.

* Young Chang writes features. She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or

by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .