Newport Beach Film Festival Tickets on Sale Thursday

​April Fools Day is shaping up to be a busy day for the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 1, for this year's April 22-29 run.

That's the same day the 2010 entries will be officially announced for the 11th annual festival.

Full details will be posted on NewportBeachFilmFest.com, which is where festival pass information will be available.  

Individual tickets for all venues screening festival films will be sold at Edwards Island
Cinemas on Newport Center Drive, which rings Fashion Island--the site of many festival screenings and events, including the opening night gala.

Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.
  
New this year is a partnership between the festival and Moving Pictures magazine for what is called the "2010 Moving Picture Film and Television Awards--Movies that Matter."

Created "to celebrate excellence in contemporary filmmaking and honor groundbreaking cinematic works that aim to make an impact in society," the 2010 MPFTV Awards will be presented during the festival.
 
Categories include "Art House Feature Length" and "Family Film Feature Length." Winning filmmakers will receive cash awards, festival recognition, a distribution offer through the Moving Pictures Film & TV Distribution division and editorial coverage in Moving Pictures magazine's print and online editions.

The goal of Newport Beach Film Festival--which was started by festival CEO and executive director Gregg Schwenk and  co-founder and marketing man Todd Quartataro--is to expose the public to a diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the globe. 

According to the festival, more than 51,000 attendees flock to Newport Beach to take them up on the offer.