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A Film Festival Putting Neurodivergent Talent Front and Center

By Greer Wylder

April 12, 2026

Blu Star Productions is launching the inaugural Blu Star Film Festival on Saturday, May 2 at The Frida Cinema, with in-person screenings scheduled from 3 to 11 p.m. The festival will also stream online, extending its reach well beyond the theater.The event features the work of eight Southern California production studios made up entirely of neurodivergent adults, many on the autism spectrum. These filmmakers are paid and credited for their work, but their films are often only seen within their own studio communities. This festival changes that, bringing their work to a broader audience in a shared, public setting.Founded by…

Jack Johnson Headlines Two-Night Coast Film & Music Benefit Concert

By Greer Wylder

October 27, 2025

The Coast Film & Music Festival has opened single-day ticket sales for its upcoming festival, taking place November 1–9 at multiple venues throughout Laguna Beach. The seventh annual event launches November 1 at the Rivian South Coast Theater with a screening of The Eyes of Ghana.The festival will conclude with two feature films: Love + War by Academy Award winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, and musician Jack Johnson’s The September Sessions.Before becoming a multi-platinum recording artist, Johnson was a prominent surf filmmaker known for Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions. His cinematic style and acoustic soundtrack helped define…

Newport Beach Film Festival 2025: ‘Blue Moon’ Shines on Opening Night

By Greer Wylder

October 20, 2025

The 26th Newport Beach Film Festival opened with a gala screening of Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, with the film’s composer Graham Reynolds in attendance. The evening began with the world premiere of They, the directorial debut short film by Renée Zellweger, followed by a live Awards Chatter conversation presented by The Hollywood Reporter, where Jacob Elordi received the Maverick Award.This video captures the red carpet arrivals, filmmaker appearances, Gregg Schwenk, co-founder and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, and the opening night atmosphere in Newport Beach.The Festival runs through October 23 with international films, premieres, special events and in-depth…

Irish Spotlight at the Newport Beach Film Festival

By Greer Wylder

October 14, 2025

On Sunday, Oct. 19, the 26th annual Newport Beach Film Festival will celebrate Irish cinema and culture with its Irish Spotlight event. The evening features North American premieres of Báite, Christy, The Unsinkable Entrepreneur, and A Sip of Irish, screening at Regal Edwards Big Newport and THE LOT in Fashion Island.Following the screenings, guests will gather at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport Beach for live music, hors d’oeuvres, and festivities honoring Irish culture.The Festival is proud to present a dynamic lineup of Irish storytelling, from heartwarming narratives and compelling documentaries to acclaimed short films. Screenings are supported by Culture Ireland,…

Newport Beach Film Festival Announces 2025 Honors

By Greer Wylder

October 08, 2025

The Newport Beach Film Festival will host its 2025 Festival Honors on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Balboa Bay Resort in partnership with Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch.This year’s honorees include Diane Lane (“Anniversary”), Mark Hamill (“Life of Chuck”), and Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser (“Rental Family”), who will each receive the Icon Award. Kerry Condon (“F1” and “Train Dreams”) and Jenny Slate (“Dying for Sex”) will receive the Artist of Distinction Award. Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”) will be honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award. Noah Schnapp (“Stranger Things”) will receive the Spotlight Award. Francine Maisler (“Sinners” and “Springsteen: Deliver…