Newport Beach Film Festival 2008

A one day odyssey through the myriad worlds of Los Angeles as documentary filmmakers Bella and Milo race to get Milo's brother Leo from jail to rehab before 8pm, or Leo goes to prison. Along the way we meet dozens of colorful characters, each with their own unique perspective. Inspired by true events. POST PARTY: The April 25th screening will be part of the Friday Night Showcase Gala. The post party will be held at Land Rover Newport Beach. Some of Orange County's top restaurant will be serving signature appetizers and the bar will be hosted by Absolut vodka and Karl Strauss beer.

Short films screening in this program include: Driftwood, Just One of the Gynos, These Boots are Made for Walken, The Trident

In New Orleans, the Lower Ninth Ward is the poster child for the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Compelled by the growing violence around him, Harry, a young amateur boxer, used his savings to purchase a plot of land on Flood Street, build an outdoor boxing ring, and create a program where he could teach neighborhood boys about boxing - and life. Filmed and edited over the course of eight years, "Flood Street" is a visually rich and compelling journey of Harry’s most promising fighters as they struggle to become the men that he believes they can be. When Hurricane Katrina destroys his home and boxing ring, Harry is faced with the dilemma of either relocating and giving up or staying and rebuilding his dream.

Water, the quintessence of life, sustains every creature on Earth. The time has come when we can no longer take this precious resource for granted. Unless we effect global change, impoverished nations could be wiped from the planet. Roused by a thirst for survival, people around the world are fighting for their birthright. Under the cover of darkness, African plumbers secretly reconnect shantytown water pipes to ensure a community's survival. A California scientist exposes toxic public water supplies. A "water guru" promotes community-based initiatives to provide water throughout India. The CEO of a billion-dollar water company argues for privatization as the wave of the future. A Canadian author pops the cork on bottled water, unveiling the disturbing realities that drive profits in the global water business.

Jason and Kyle become embroiled in the adventure of their lives when they discover a mysterious airplane at the local airport. The boys sneak aboard the plane and soon find themselves airborne over the Arizona desert. After hours in the air, the boys unwittingly uncover a bomb in the luggage compartment. When they burst into the cabin to report their discovery, they find that everyone has bailed. The boys must take the controls and land the plane, but they soon realize that their troubles have just begun.

Darak, the swordmaster of his time, is a good father and teacher to his son, Juda. But after he learns that Juda has been reteaching Darak's methods, Darak casts his son out and banishes him from the craft. But years later, Juda has become the local sword champion and he coincidentally crosses paths with his father one last time and they must duel for the true champion title. But will their family ties get in the way of a death duel?

We follow the course of a day in the park from sunrise to sunset and within that day, the activities of one family as each member finds a moment to take a deep breath and exhale.

An indigenous Argentine teenager, Patricia Joins a team of 18 'shoe droppers' from Los Angeles, California to distribute Toms Shoes to extremely poor people in her country including her own family that lives in an impoverished rain forest village.