Russell Crowe’s Directorial Debut, ‘The Water Diviner’, To Open Newport Beach Film Festival

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - April 9, 2015 - PRLog -- The 2015 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) proudly announces a special screening of Russell Crowe’s directorial debut, The Water Diviner as its Opening Night film. The screening of The Water Diviner will take place on Thursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 8:00 pm at Lido Live (3459 Via Lido) followed by a gala reception at Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Drive). The 16th annual NBFF will run from April 23rd – April 30, 2015.

The Water Diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating 1915 World War I battle of Gallipoli in Turkey. Australian farmer Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Olga Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays. Holding on to hope, Connor must travel across the war-torn landscape with the help of a Turkish Officer, himself a veteran of the World War I battles. An extraordinary tale of love, faith and heroism, that explores the conflicted and unpredictable nature of war and of the human heart. The film also stars Jai Courtney, Isabel Lucas, Damon Herriman, Jacqueline McKenzie and Cem Yilmaz.

“Russell Crowe and his team have crafted a moving, thoughtful and truly beautiful film. The Newport Beach Film Festival is proud to be partnering with the Australian Government and Warner Bros. Entertainment to bring such powerful cinema to our audience” stated Gregg Schwenk, Executive Director/CEO of the Newport Beach FIm Festival.

“G’Day USA and Ausfilm are delighted to, once again, partner with the Newport Beach Film Festival to bring the best of Australian film to US audiences and commemorate the centenary of Australian and New Zealand troops landing in Gallipoli Cove during World War One. Russell Crowe’s ‘The Water Diviner’ pays homage to that defining moment in our nations’ history and we are thrilled that the Newport Beach Film Festival has chosen the film for opening night,” stated Australian Consul-General Los Angeles, Karen Lanyon.

Following the screening, the Festival will host an Opening Night gala at Fashion Island presented by Fashion Island and Esquire Magazine. The gala will feature culinary tastings from 25 of Orange County’s premiere restaurants, hosted bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Stella Artois Beer and Remy Cointreau with a special performance from Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil.

Tickets to the Opening Night screening and gala are $225 each and are available at http://www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com.  Patrons can also purchase tickets to the Opening Night gala only for $175 each. Guests must be at least 21 years old and cocktail attire is highly recommended.

The Newport Beach Film Festival will showcase more than 350 films from 50 countries and host nightly special events, red carpet galas, compelling conversations with filmmakers, international spotlight events and seminars. The Festival offers filmgoers unique opportunities to mingle with celebrities, filmmakers from around the globe and film industry professionals in a beautiful seaside locale.

The Newport Beach Film Festival is sponsored in part by BMW, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Fashion Island, Los Angeles Times and the City of Newport Beach.

Passes and tickets for film screenings, galas and special events are on sale now. To purchase tickets and for information about the Newport Beach Film Festival visit http://www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com

About the Newport Beach Film Festival

Celebrated as one of the leading lifestyle film festivals in the United States, the Newport Beach Film Festival seeks to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program, a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the NBFF focuses on showcasing a diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the globe. The 16th annual Newport Beach Film Festival runs April 23 - April 30th and will spotlight over 350 films from around the world.

About Zarkana and Cirque du Soleil

Zarkana, a visually stunning modern acrobatic spectacular, began its residency at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on November 1, 2012 following hugely successful engagements at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Arena Madrid and Moscow’s Kremlin State Palace Theatre. Zarkana is a spirited voyage through an abandoned theater where an extraordinary circus comes to life. Populated by a motley collection of off-the-wall characters and incomparable acrobats, Zarkana is written and directed by François Girard, one of Quebec’s most highly regarded creators who is equally at ease in cinema (The Red Violin, Silk).

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 155 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents.

About Newport Beach, California

Nestled among golden stretches of pristine Pacific coastline between Los Angeles and San Diego, Newport Beach epitomizes the casually sophisticated lifestyle of Southern California. This idyllic seaside destination is widely celebrated for its natural beauty and vibrant yachting community alongside stylish accommodations, eclectic coastal cuisine and upscale shopping. Ranked among the “Top 10 Resort Towns in the U.S.,” Newport Beach also is distinguished as one of the country’s “Top 10 Best Family Beaches.” A mild climate and picturesque backdrop minutes from the newly expanded Orange County/John Wayne Airport (SNA) offers year-round appeal. For more information on Newport Beach or for a complimentary visitor guide, please visit our website http://www.visitnewportbeach.com, or call (800) 94-COAST.