Newport Beach Film Festival 2009

Adelaide is young woman suffering from Munchausen’s syndrome, a psychiatric disorder in which those affected fake illness in order to draw attention and sympathy to themselves. Thriving on attention, she is constantly doing peculiar antics. Her world is flipped upside down when she meets a charming, young pharmacist who seems to like her just as she is. But can she leave her old tendencies in the past for a chance at love?

A poor, misfit New Mexico mine-worker named Power sets out to change the world through his love of drums. His problem: he's never learned to play. Power uncovers an underground subculture of air-drum fights, where men battle through some of the hardest drum parts in rock music. Carlos, an air drum trainer, prepares Power for the biggest fight soon to take place in New York City. On the eve of the fight, local miners are attacked by company police. Power`s union-leader father attempts to get the miners to stand their ground but, unarmed, they don`t stand a chance. Power finally appreciates what he has struggled for all along, understanding the most important lesson: I don`t need drums, I am drums.

This rare film documents the incredible story of Afghanistan’s significant role in the ancient history of the Silk Road. It is a testament and in honor of the heroic Afghans who sacrificed and dedicated their lives in order to safeguard their cultural legacy in the midst of war and chaos over the last several decades.

When a catastrophic hurricane rips through Florida, it leaves in its wake a wasteland of matchstick trees, overturned cars, and shattered lives. Afraid to leave his home unprotected, Perry, a dedicated family man, weathers the storm only to find himself stranded with his wife and child in the threatening aftermath. As Perry struggles to salvage what little remains, his insecurities slowly tear at the fabric of his marriage to Patrice, who wishes for nothing more than to celebrate their survival. But as tempers flair, the couple soon discovers that the storm was only a prelude to an even darker fury ahead.

For 50 years deejays seized the radio, a revolutionary medium that had the power to move people. A handful of AM pioneers, including Alan Freed, Casey Kasem and Wolfman Jack introduced white America to the black rhythm and blues in the 1950s. These were the glory years of rock radio. But from its inception, rock radio had powerful enemies. Deejays like Freed were booted off the air and program directors and radio consultants took over. This documentary pays tribute to those unsung heroes and finds promise in their rebirth on satellite radio. Told by the deejays and the artists they made rock stars, this story of love and war, celebrates a time when radio had the power to change lives.

Meet Lee Bruce, a prospective Berkeley undergrad. One last English assignment based on random events, stands in the way of him transferring to the school of his dreams. Unable to come up with a solid topic for his paper, Lee’s chances of transferring seem slim at best, until a friend makes a random suggestion. Waldo. Lee writes it off as a stupid idea that is until a random appearance of Waldo explodes into Lee’s life stealing his laptop. Now Lee has to chase Waldo through a world of randomness before the day is over, retrieve his stolen laptop to write his paper, and hope his professor will think his new-found topic is anything but stupid.

Eight-year-old Alex loves Halloween, letting his imagination run wild, picturing himself as the characters he dresses up as to celebrate the holiday. More than anything this year Alex wants to go trick-or-treating with his older brother who refuses to come along unless he is guaranteed mass amounts of sweets. Even if Alex can make good on his promise there is still one more obstacle: how to sneak the candy past their health-fanatic mother?

This quirky film utilizes the technique of stop-motion animation and tells the story of a young girl forced to face her fears that lurk in the silent darkness. Endowing power to the surrounding objects of the dark, she allows them to overpower her with unforeseen consequences.

When a shy 17-year-old musician from London arrives to his cousin's home in Anaheim, CA, he's plunged into a rock n’ roll world he never dreamed of. Through multimedia feeds, and wall to wall rock music, the lives of four teens are chronicled through a day and a night. We are taken on a journey where songs are written, hearts and guitars are broken.

Short films screening in this program include: Longshots, MOTHER, MINE, Nowhere Kids, X to Y

David and his family are suffering along with the rest of the friends in their town in Herrin, Illinois during the nationwide coalmining strike of 1922. In order to pay for treatment of his sick father's treatment, David does the unthinkable and crosses the picket line to work as a scab in the mines. All too soon David discovers that his choice may not have been the safest as the union and their supporters will stop at nothing in order to keep the mine closed. In the end David has decide where his loyalty lies.

America’s wild horses are being rounded up and removed to camps to await a bleak fate. This music video, shot in some of America’s most scenic locations, captures the profound beauty and spirit of America’s last wild horses.

This passionate story explores the human condition and the complex relationship between fathers and sons. Offering humor and virtue, the film follows Rick Cree on a journey to the small town in eastern Kansas where his father grew up. Hoping to gain understanding and wanting to avoid the same estrangement he felt with his own father, Rick brings his son along. It’s a story of regret, reconciliation, and redemption told with grace and care.

Eric is a big-shot executive on the hunt for new mansion to accommodate his wealthy lifestyle. In the process, he ends up crossing paths with his realtor, Max, an unemployed cartoon rabbit. Desensitized to the world around him, Eric is forced to confront the world through the perspective of an animated American.

Short films screening in this program include: Because You're Gorgeous, The Bridge (Le Pont), Distraxion, Escapism, Gerald's Last Day, Granny Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, Heart Attack!, Hot Dog, The Incident at Tower 37, Ticket for Success, Token Hunchback

Short films screening in this program include: The Heart is a Hidden Camera, Jimmy's Cafe, Picture Day, Split Hands (Manos Partidas)

Arlen Faber is the reclusive author of "Me and God," a book that has redefined spirituality for an entire generation and has been translated into over 100 languages. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of his still wildly popular book, Arlen is still sought after as the man who has all the answers. Arlen's life collides with Elizabeth, a single mom raising her seven year-old son, and Kris, a young man fresh out of rehab who is searching for meaning. Both Elizabeth and Kris are hopeful that Arlen has the answers, but the truth is he hasn't got a clue.

In this tale of war and intrigue, Arn, a young swordsman, meets Cecilia, the love of his life, but a cruel and jealous world soon forces them apart. Cecilia is imprisoned in a convent and Arn is sent away to the Holy Land as a Knight Templar, to fight in the war raging between Christians and Muslims. Their painful separation causes their faith in God and his goodness to waver, though their faith in each other and their confidence that they will one day be reunited remains strong. The young lovers fight to survive and through their love for each other, learn to confront evil and overcome the physical hardships that a world of anger and betrayal has placed upon them.