Newport Beach Film Festival 2009

This documentary is about advertising and creativity, and its profound effects on modern culture. The film intimately reveals the relatively unknown personalities and stories of some of the most influential advertising minds of our time. Beginning with advertising’s “Creative Revolution” of the mid-1960s, to Dan Wieden who coined “Just Do It,” the film interweaves stunning cinematography of some of the greatest ad campaigns of all time. An inspiring synthesis of art, commerce, and human emotion, this documentary explores and defines great advertising as a rare and rebellious act from an industry more typically associated with mediocrity and manipulation.

A young American pilot fighting in 1944 writes what may be the final letter of his life, bearing his soul to the man who inspired him to enlist… his father, a stoic veteran of World War I.

This film is a rare and compelling exploration of the effects of the US military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. A provocative portrait of bravery amidst exclusion, the film reveals the personal stories of Americans willing to risk their lives for a country that criminalizes the act of coming out. Current and veteran gay soldiers reveal how “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” affected them during their tours of duty, as they struggled to maintain a double life. The film questions how the United States military can claim to represent democracy and freedom while denying one segment of the population the right to serve. The film provokes thoughtful dialogue about the merits of banning those who are honest about their identities from serving their country.

A man's attempt at proving that his theory of extra terrestrials is true, and that they are here more often than we think.

For 46 volunteers on two Sea Shepherd ships determined to shut down an illegal whaling fleet in Antarctic waters, the campaign becomes a matter of life and death. At the Edge of the World puts you in the middle of the action as the international crew unleashes an arsenal of bizarre & brilliant tactics in this uniquely beautiful & deadly corner of the world.

Toni is the most recent victim of Franco’s fascist regime in 1940’s Barcelona. He has been in prison for four months and his young wife, Merce, has just given birth to their son. This emotional film shows the afternoon that Merce travels to the prison to show Toni their new-born son. What was suppose to be a day of joy and renewal turns to tragedy in the blink of an eye.

This film looks into the minds and hearts of a delightful collection of eccentrics, visionaries, and just plain folks who have transformed their autos into artworks. On a humorous and touching journey, we discover what drives the creative process for these unconventional characters. In the end, we find that an art car has the power to change us, altering the view of our increasingly homogeneous world.

Upon turning 40, Jon Fitzgerald challenges himself to chase his dream of playing professional golf. Given his passion for the sport, the right team, training schedule and commitment, will he have his chance? He believes it’s never too late to become what he always wanted to be. Determined, he assembles a team and develops a strategy. He eventually joins The Golf Channel’s Amateur Tour, and wins the first tournament he enters. With consistent play throughout the year, Fitzgerald earns an invitation to the National Championships. From Los Angeles to Arizona, Scotland to Ireland, he travels to historic courses, gaining valuable experience. Off the course, he develops an understanding of his family history. Fitzgerald must come to terms with his identity, balancing the experience and guidance of his two father figures – polar opposites as people and influences in his life. Now himself a father of two, Fitzgerald sees his turn as a chance to “break the cycle” and establish a new approach. He learns that golf mirrors life, the need for patience and discipline, focus and imagination. Through it all, Fitzgerald discovers that finding the right balance in life will only make him a better player, father, husband and person.

Mulan disguises herself as a man to join the army in her father's place. She hides her true identity while showing remarkable skill as a warrior and later becomes a famous general. Mulan continues to be an inspiration to females for her courage.

Bean, a fifteen year old writer, says goodbye to her surrogate father, Johnny. Her mother, Julie, has a new boyfriend, Scoot, a lazy redneck. Bean wants Julie to stop cycling through men and start being a mother. When Julie is unreceptive, Bean takes action to gain her mother’s attention.

Nick has no rythm. He searches for his cool so he can fit in with the other Beats. In a basement jazz club, Nick tries to impress his friends by performing poetry, jazz, and even interpretive dance, but his attempts do nothing but empty the club. Just when Nick is about to give up and move to Squaresville, he accidently discovers a talent for scatting. The Beats love it and Nick finds his cool in his own beatless way. He may stick out like a sore thumb, but that's because Nick always marches to the beat of his own drum.

The suburb of Sunshine Hills lives in the grip of fear following the rumored abductions of three teenage girls. In this hotbed lives Daniel, a shy 14-year-old boy, who has two obsessions: photography and Suzy, a 16-year-old Lolita, which makes for a dangerous combination of youth and sexuality.

Two Panama barrios, Barraza and El Chorrillo, suffered grave losses when American forces invaded the country in 1989 in order to capture General Manuel Noriega. With both intimate and captivating imagery, the effects of historical realities are shown in sharp footage as the film explores the remarkable lives of the townspeople in these crumbling communities. The peoples’ daily struggles capture the dignity, joy, and awareness of life in a shantytown as it nears extinction due to outside forces. Boxers, cock fighters, street urchins, family members, and visionaries detail the day-to-day plight to stay strong and endure the loss of loved ones in a vivid documentary that gives voice to the seldom-heard.

Warthog takes pride in his lion-esque head of hair. He struts around boldly until one lock of hair mysteriously springs out of place. This simply will not do, but the stubborn hair refuses to fall back into place. Warthog does everything he can to regain his pristine looks; but the more he tries, the worse it gets.

When Anna, a struggling Brazilian immigrant, appeals to her only son’s estranged father for monetary support, she encounters three Russian thugs demanding stolen money, leaving her the sole interpreter and ultimately the determining factor between her son’s future and the life of the man she loves.

Katia and Valia are two, middle-aged women, looking back on a distant youth in which, together with a man called Valentin, they formed a tragic love triangle. Through extended flashbacks, their lives play out, detailing the twisted tale of love. Valentin's true love is Valia, but after a long separation, he begins a relationship with Katia, and they marry. Years later Valentin crosses paths with Valia and their love is rekindled. Torn between the two women, he eventually commits suicide. Valia returns to his home only to find Katia mourning her dead husband. The two women are then imprisoned in a relationship based on mutual hatred, but tinged with a bizarre affinity attributable to their shared grief.

This captivating film shows the unlikely, complicated beauty and art of modern origami. A fusion of high science and fine art unfolds asthe film's eccentric subjects (former physicists and sculptors) reshape and reinterpret the world in paper. Stunning cinematography, accompanied by an elegant score, sets the tone for this film’s exciting blend of expressiveness, creativity, and meaning.

Legendary professional surfer Joey Buran rose up from his humble Carlsbad, California origins to become one of the sport’s greatest athletes. In 1984 he won the highly coveted Pipeline Master’s Championship, but it left him feeling unfulfilled and depressed, ultimately leading to a suicide attempt. However, Buran’s rise to fame, fall into obscurity and comeback a decade later, lead to his discovery of his life’s true purpose.