Hosting the U.S. premiere of Crash turned out to be a coup for the 2005 Newport Beach Film Festival, whose organizers noticed a marked increase in interest from Hollywood for this year's April 20-30 run. Last year, director Paul Haggis led a small Crash contingent (sadly missing promised attendee actor/producer Don Cheadle, who was stuck somewhere else) to a makeshift stage next to a free vodka line in a Fashion Island courtyard to thank everyone for coming. I know because I was the last person
Newport Beach filmmaker Aric Avelino's American Gun was announced today as an Independent Spirit Award best picture nominee. Half Nelson, The Dead Girl, Pan's Labyrinth and Little Miss Sunshine round out the premiere category for the 2007 Film Independent's Spirit Awards ceremony that will air live beginning at 3 p.m. (and, if past years are any indication, immediately rebroadcast) on Saturday, Feb. 24, on IFC, the Independent Film Channel.
Only Half Nelson and Little Miss Sunshine, with five n
