Picture this!

The Newport Beach Film Festival opens tonight and runs through April 5

with more than 50 feature and 100 short films. Here is a listing of the

galas to be offered during the festival.

OPENING NIGHT

“The Sting,” a seven-time Academy Award winner in 1973, will be

honored tonight with a gala screening at Edwards Big Newport, followed by

a post-party at the Newport Beach Marriott.

Sally Kirkland and Charles Durning are expected to attend the

festivities, along with other members of the cast and production crew,

including Jack Kehow, screenwriter David S. Ward, producer Tony Bill and

cinematographer Robert Surtees.

The post-party, hosted by Lucy and Leigh Steinberg, will include

gourmet food, a hosted bar, a wine tasting, music by the Johnny Crawford

Dance Orchestra and a show of classic cars.

Film: 7 p.m. tonight

Location: Edwards Big Newport, 300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

Gala: 9 p.m.

Location: Newport Marriott, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

Cost: $75, black-tie optional.

Call: (888) 464-2468

GALA: 20TH ANNIVERSARY ‘ZOOT SUIT’

Luis Valdez’ “Zoot Suit” will be honored Friday with a special 20th

anniversary screening and gala, presented in conjunction with the Orange

County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Several cast members -- including Edward James Olmos -- and others in

the Latino film community will be in attendance at the gala reception at

El Torito in Fashion Island.

Zoot Suit

o7 United States, 1981

f7 Producers: Kenneth Brecher, Peter J. Burrell, Gordon Davidson,

William P. Wingate

Director: Luis Valdez

Screenwriter: Luiz Valdez

Cast: Daniel Valdez, Edward James Olmos, Charles Aidman, Tyne Daly,

John Anderson, Abel Franco, Mike Gomez, Alma Martinez, Frank McCarthy,

Tony Plana, Robert Beltran

Running time: 103:00

o7 Four men, mostly Chicano, are put on trial for murder at the

height of the racial tensions and rioting that plagued Los Angeles during

World War II. f7

Film: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Gala: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: El Torito Grill, 951 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Cost: $40

Call: (888) 464-2468

GALA: 30TH ANNIVERSARY ‘THE FRENCH CONNECTION’

In 1971, “The French Connection” won five Academy Awards, including

best picture, best actor and best director. After its 30th anniversary

screening, director William Friedkin will be honored with a reception at

Atrium Court hosted by the Newport Beach Premiere Cinema Guild.

The French Connection

o7 United States, 1971

f7 Producers: Philip D’Antoni, G. David Schine, Kenneth Utt

Director: William Friedkin

Screenwriters: Robin Moore, Ernest Tidyman

Cast: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel

Bozzuffi, Frederic de Pasquale, Bill Hickman, Ann Rebbot, Harold Gary,

Arlene Farber, Eddie Egan

Running time: 104:00

o7 This filmf7 ,o7 about the largest narcotics seizure of all time

in 1962f7 , o7 centers on the real-life adventures of two idiosyncratic

Harlem special narcotics squad officers.

f7

Film: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Gala: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Atrium Court, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Cost: $50

Call: (888) 464-2468

GALA: ‘SEXY BEAST’

The Daily Grill will host a gala Sunday after the screening of “Sexy

Beast,” starring Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone. Brought to Newport in

conjunction with the British American Business Council of Orange County,

“Sexy Beast” is a gritty tale that some critics say will banish all

thoughts of “Gandhi” from Kingsley’s reputation.

Sexy Beast

o7 Great Britain, 2000f7

Producers: Jeremy Thomas, Denise O’Dell

Director: Jonathan Glazer

Screenwriters: Louis Mellis, David Scinto

Cast: Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, Cavan

Kendall, Julianne White

Running time: 88:00

o7 In the twilight of his career, gangster Gary has just retired to a

posh Spanish hacienda with his loving wife. However, all is not well in

paradise. Rumbling over the horizon comes Don “Malky” Logan, the one-time

friend, now foe, of Gary, who is intent on persuading him to return for

one last big job.f7

Film: 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Gala: 8:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Daily Grill, 957 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

Cost: $30

Call: (888) 464-2468

GALA: CHINESE CINEMA

Three top Chinese movies -- “My Daddy,” “Greeting 2000” and “Tragedy

On and Off the Stage” -- will make their United States premieres Monday

at the festival. The Chinese government will send filmmakers and

delegates from the Ministry of Culture and members of the Consulate

General of the People’s Republic of China also plan to attend the

screenings and gala at Aysia 101.

My Daddy

o7 China, 1996

f7 Producer: Zhu Yongde

Director: Huang Shuqin

Screenwriter: Guo Lingling

Cast: David Wu, Wang Quan, Ma Xiaoqing

o7 A tramp kid, Da Zhi is a big fan of Lin Tianhai, a well-known

soccer star. He chases Lin after a game, falls to the ground and is taken

to the hospital. There Da Zhi tells his hospital roommates he is Lin

Tianhai’s son, inspiring a nurse to go see the soccer player. Da Zhi

arrives first and begs Lin to pose as his father.f7

Film: 1:30 p.m. Monday Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Cost: $5, film only.

Greeting 2000 (Xiang Yue Liang Qiao Nian)

o7 China, 1999f7

Producer: Jiang Ping

Director: Jin Ge

Screenwriter: He Qing

Cast: Li Lin, Liang Zhi Qiang

o7 Chen Huihui, born into a rich family, is not satisfied with the

marriage her father arranges. On her way to find love in Shang Hai, she

meets Chen Da Bao, a young man who is on his way to the city to start a

new life. f7

Film: 4 p.m. Monday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Cost: $5, film only.

Tragedy On and Off the Stage

o7 China, 1999

f7 Producer: Jiang Ping

Director: Zhu Nan

Screenwriter: Jiang Ping

Cast: Zhang Hao Wai, Lu Ling, Wu Jin Li, Lin Jin Ling

o7 Political persecution by the late Qing Dynasty causes turmoil for

famous Peking Opera actor Yang Yue Lu, whose life intertwines with love

and three women. The plot is intriguing and powerful, with dynamic action

choreography.

f7

Film: 6:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Gala: 9 p.m. Monday

Where: Aysia 101, 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Cost: $30

Call: (888) 464-2468

CLOSING NIGHT GALA: AWARDS

An awards presentation will be followed by a post-party on April 5,

the closing night of the festival. Awards are presented for the both the

features and shorts categories and include special audience selection

awards for best feature, best short and best documentary. The party is

complete with a hosted bar, food and dancing.

When: 7 p.m. April 5

Where: Edwards Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Cost: $30

Call: (888) 464-2468