Greer's OC

For the first time in five years, the historic Lido Theater, recently renovated to preserve its Art Deco charm while adding modern features, will be a key venue for the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF). Now celebrating its 25th year, the festival runs from October 17-24, 2024, and will showcase over 350 films from more than 50 countries. Select screenings will take place at the Lido Theater, including the highly anticipated Closing Night film A Real Pain, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, on Thursday, October 24 at 8:30 p.m.

One of the festival’s Centerpiece Films showing at The Lido Theater is Stealing Pulp Fiction, a comedic story about three friends plotting to steal Quentin Tarantino’s personal 35mm print of Pulp Fiction. Another standout is My Dead Friend Zoe, a moving drama about a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran and her deep connection to her deceased best friend, exploring themes of memory, loss, and healing. The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, will also be featured, telling the story of a seasoned showgirl confronting her uncertain future after her show unexpectedly closes.

Special Events at The Lido Theater In addition to screenings, the Lido Theater will host a variety of special events, offering festivalgoers the chance to engage with filmmakers, cinematographers, and other industry professionals. These include intimate talks and interactive panels that delve into the creative process behind the films.

The special programming kicks off with a screening of the SoCal Snowy Owl documentary on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m., followed by a panel with conservation experts, including Denver Holt from the Owl Research Institute. On Saturday, October 19 at 12:30 p.m., Cinematographer Celebration: Masters of the Frame will honor Variety’s “10 Cinematographers to Watch,” spotlighting their talents in visual storytelling. Later that evening, the film Queen of the Ring, which tells the story of trailblazing female wrestler Mildred Burke, will screen at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.

On Sunday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m., The Last Showgirl will be screened, followed by a Q&A with Director Gia Coppola and Screenwriter Kate Gersten. The film explores the journey of a showgirl adjusting to her future after her long-running show ends abruptly.

The Composer Spotlight on Monday, October 21 at 7 p.m. will honor renowned singer-songwriter and producer Finneas O’Connell. He will discuss his work on the television series Disclaimer and share exclusive behind-the-scenes clips. The evening will also include a special award ceremony in his honor. On Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m., a special screening of Star Trek: Lower Decks will feature a preview of the Season 5 premiere, followed by a panel with series creator Mike McMahan and voice actors Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, and Jerry O’Connell.

The festival will conclude with the Closing Night Film A Real Pain on Thursday, October 24 at 8:30 p.m., presented by UCI Health. The film follows two cousins, played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, as they travel through Poland to honor their late grandmother, uncovering deep family tensions along the way. After the screening, a celebratory reception will take place at Lido Plaza, featuring a hosted bar with Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Peroni, along with light bites from River Jetty Restaurant Group.

The full schedule of events and screenings at The Lido Theater follows below:

• Friday, October 18
  • 7 p.m.: SoCal Snowy Owl, directed by Denver Holt
  • 8:45 p.m.: The Wedge, directed by Brent Weldon
• Saturday, October 19
  • 12:30 p.m.: Pay Dirt: The Story of Supercross, directed by Paul Taublieb
  • 3:30 p.m.: Queen of the Ring, directed by Ash Avildsen
  • 5:30 p.m.: Stealing Pulp Fiction, directed by Danny Turkiewicz
• Sunday, October 20
  • 1 p.m.: Dune: Part Two, directed by Denis Villeneuve
  • 5 p.m.: My Dead Friend Zoe, directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
  • 7:30 p.m.: The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola
• Monday, October 20
  • 7 p.m.: Composer Spotlight - Honoring Finneas O’Connell
• Tuesday, October 22
  • 5:30 p.m.: Ice Maiden, directed by Nathaniel C.T. Jackson, James Blannin-Ferguson
  • 7:30 p.m.: I Need You: 53 Years of the Band America, directed by Dustin Elm, David Breschel
• Wednesday, October 23
  • 7:30 p.m.: Star Trek: Lower Decks, directed by Mike McMahan
• Thursday, October 24
  • 8:30 p.m.: Closing Night Film - A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg

For the full Newport Beach Film Festival schedule and ticket information, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.

Image Courtesy Bob Hodson