Newport Beach Film Festival to Showcase an Exclusive Screening of British Cinema

On Friday, April 22nd, 2016 the 17th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival will present its UK Spotlight, an evening celebration of British cinema and culture. The event will feature the Regional Premieres of three highly anticipated UK films: Sunset Song (2015), The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015), and High-Rise (2015), followed by a festive post-screening reception.

Distinguished director Terence Davies (The House of Mirth, The Long Day Closes) returns to the screen with this adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's classic novel about a farming family struggling to eke out a living in northeast Scotland during the early 1900s. Sunset Song is directed by Terence Davies and stars Peter Mullan, Agyness Deyn, Ron Donachie, Jack Greenlees, and Kevin Guthrie.

The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the true story of Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, (Dev Patel) whose intuitive sense for pure mathematics sees him invited from India to study at Cambridge University, mentored by noted academic G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons). The Man Who Knew Infinity is directed by Matt Brown with performances by Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Northam, Kevin McNally and Devika Bhise.

Directed by Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace, Sightseers), High-Rise follows Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) as he moves into a high-tech concrete skyscraper, stratified according to each inhabitant's social class. A world unto its own, the building has a strict residential hierarchy led by a de-facto "king" (Jeremy Irons). Life seems like paradise until a breakdown in services on the lower levels incites an uprising against the higher, more affluent floors. High-Rise is directed by Ben Wheatley and stars Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss and James Purefoy.

"The Festival continues a proud tradition of presenting the very best in British Cinema. We are honored to host the Regional Premiere of Sunset Song. Terence Davies has crafted a stunning, visual masterpiece." stated Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival. "Dev Patel delivers an outstanding and emotionally perfect performance in The Man Who Knew Infinity. High-Rise is sure be one of the most talked about films at the Festival. Director Ben Wheatley takes us on a phantasmagorical journey through the inner workings of a highly stylized dystopian world."

All UK Spotlight films will screen on Friday, April 22nd. Sunset Song will screen at 8:00pm at THE ISLAND Cinemas (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660) at the center of Fashion Island. The Man Who Knew Infinity screens at 8:30pm and High-Rise plays at 8:15pm at the Starlight Triangle Theaters (1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92627).

The post-screening celebration will start at 10:00pm at Anthropologie in Fashion Island (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660). The Gala will include a hosted bar by Tito's Handmade Vodka and Stella Artois Beer, signature tastings from top Orange County restaurants, multiple DJs and entertainment.

The Newport Beach Film Festival UK Spotlight is supported by Cadillac, Visit Newport Beach, HMV - UK, Bulgari Hotel London, British American Business Council - Orange County, BritWeek and Screen International.

Admission to a UK Spotlight Film and Gala is $65.00. Admission to UK Celebration Gala only is $45.00. The minimum age for Gala attendees is 21 years old.

On Friday, April 22 at 6:00pm the Festival will present a UK Shorts program spotlighting five short films. The screening will take place at Island Cinema (999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach) and will feature The Dreaming of Peggy Lee, Crack, Blue Borsalino, and Colours.

The Festival will present the U.S. Premiere of the documentary The First Film, directed by David Nicholas Wilkinson on April 25 at 5:45pm at Island Cinema and the West Coast Premiere of Tear Me Apart directed by Alex Lightman on April 26 at 8:00pm at Edwards Big Newport.

Admission to the general screenings is $15. For ticket information and updates visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com