22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Celebrates Irish Cinema And Culture

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Oct. 7, 2021 - PRLog -- wwwThe 22nd annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) will present the largest celebration of Irish Cinema in North America during its eight-day run (October 21^st – 28^th, 2021) in Southern California. Highlights include an Irish Showcase event, red carpet premieres, seven Irish feature length films, six Irish short films and the participation of Irish filmmakers and dignitaries.

On Sunday, October 24th, 2021, the Festival will present its Irish Spotlight, an evening celebration of Irish cinema and culture. The event will feature the premiere of the three highly anticipated Irish films, Deadly Cuts, Redemption of a Rogue and Shelter ('Foscadh') followed by a festive post-screening reception.

The Irish Spotlight films will screen at Edwards Big Newport (300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA). The post-screening celebration will take place at Muldoon's Irish Pub (202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA) and will feature live music and hosted hors d'oeuvres.

Directed by Rachel Carey, Deadly Cuts (US Premiere) (6:00pm) stars Victoria Smurfit, Ericka Roe and Angelina Ball. A black comedy set in a working-class Dublin hair salon where the stylists become accidental vigilantes and community heroes as they take on gang members and gentrifiers threatening their community.

Directed by Philip Doherty, Redemption of a Rogue (US Premiere) (6:00pm) stars Aaron Monaghan, Ciaran Roche, Aisling O'Mara, Pat McCabe, Shane Connoughton and Liz Fitzgibbon.  Jimmy carries a black leather doctor's bag around with him containing the rope he plans to hang himself with. He returns home to the fictional town of Ballylough in the cold austere beauty of West Cavan to seek salvation for his sins.

Written and directed by Seán Breathnach and produced by Paddy Hayes, Shelter ('Foscadh') (International Premiere) (6:15pm) stars Dónall Ó Héalai, Fionnuala Flaherty and Cillian O'Gairbhí. When his overprotective parents pass away, friendless and guileless recluse, John Cunliffe, discovers their land to be extremely valuable. He is soon forced to navigate the choppy waters of courtship, trust, and vengeance for the first time in his 28 years. Shelter ('Foscadh') is Ireland's Oscar submission for Best International Film for the 2022 Academy Awards.

The Newport Beach Film Festival Irish Showcase is presented by supported by Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland and The Joseph A. Lynch Trust in partnership with, The Irish Herald, Irish Arts & Entertainment, Irish Film and Television Academy, Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Irish American Magazine, Kerrygold, Celtic Nations Magazine, Cork Film Festival, The Ireland Funds, Irish Screen America, Richard Harris International Film Festival, Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Irish Fair Foundation, Consulate General of Ireland, Los Angeles and Muldoon's Irish Pub. Admission to an Irish Spotlight film and the post party is $20.00.

"Culture Ireland is delighted to support the presentation of Irish films at Newport Beach Film Festival. Again this year the Festival has selected some truly memorable recent films from a pool of fantastic filmmakers we are lucky to have in Ireland. ", stated Christine Sisk, Director of Culture Ireland.

Louise Ryan, Marketing and Communications Manager at Screen Ireland, commented: "Screen Ireland is delighted to partner with the Newport Beach Film Festival to present this selection of highly-anticipated new Irish films. Representing a rich and diverse range of emerging and established Irish talent to discover, these films are sure to connect with festival audiences at Newport Beach and beyond."

"Newport Beach Film Festival showcases the very best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. I am thrilled that included in that showcase is the Irish Spotlight which underlines the depth of imagination, creativity and diversity in Irish filmmaking today", Stated Marcella Smyth, Consul General of Ireland - South Western United States.

On Sunday, October 24th, the Festival will screen the short program Irish Shorts - All Sorts at 1:00pm at The Lot - Fashion Island (999 Newport Canter Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660). Films in the program include How to Fall in Love in a Pandemic, Drifting, Fatherly, Life After Life, The Invisible Boy and The Yellow Dress.

Admission to the Irish Shorts program is $15.00.

Other Irish feature length films screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival include the international premiere of Director, Ross Killeen's film, Love Yourself Today as well as acclaimed Irish documentarian, Kim Bartley's, Pure Grit (US Premiere) and Tomás Seoighe's, The Queen V Patrick O'Donnell (US Premiere). The Irish horror feature, Let the Wrong One In (Regional Premiere) directed by Conor McMahon will also screen.

"The Festival is extremely proud to showcase outstanding Irish Cinema. We are honored to host the most comprehensive collection of Irish film in North America. This year's program reflects the exceptionally strong creative talent in Ireland", stated Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

For Festival passes, tickets and COVID-19 safety information, visit http://www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com