Diverse lineup set for film fest

With more than 400 films — including 150 world premieres, 27 U.S. premieres and 15 selections from the Sundance Film Festival — live music and a cinematographer’s forum, the Newport Beach Film Festival promises an even bigger and more diverse event this year. The lineup was announced Friday.

The festival will open on April 19 at Edwards Big Newport with Chad Lowe’s directorial debut, “Beautiful Ohio,” a dysfunctional family’s coming-of-age story set in the 1970s and starring William Hurt and Rita Wilson.

“This film is an extremely moving family drama, and I think it is going to be a great way to kick off the festival,” said executive director and chief executive Gregg Schwenk.

The West Coast premiere of the U.K.’s “Son of Rambow” takes audiences back to the 1980s for a story of friendship and the wonders of childhood, closing the festival on April 26, with awards and selected events to follow through April 29.

Meanwhile, the festival will present an action-sports series, an expanded family series, a youth film showcase and several other themed runs.

“Of course, we are especially proud to be hosting the John Wayne Centennial with nine screenings of classic Wayne films as well as a symposium, ‘Wayne and the Western,’ ” Schwenk said.

Other seminars will focus on selecting the right music for a film and exploring the directorial and screenwriting processes.

Senior film programmer Leslie Feibleman is excited to offer the largest lineup of Asian films in the festival’s eight years, including “Shanghai Kiss,” as well as an extensive selection of Latino films, such as “Vinicius” from Brazil and Chile’s “Ugly Me.”

“With 35 countries represented, it’s a fabulous slate of international films, and I think there are films in our lineup that will appeal to the entire community,” Feibleman said.

Tickets for individual screenings range from $10 to $15, and special gala events will cost $40 to $125. Tickets will go on sale at noon on April 4.

For more information, go to www.newportbeachfilmfest.com .