Posted on July 13, 2017 by Christine Crosby in I'll Push You, Losing Sight of Shore, Newport Film Festival, Pat Burns

Newport Beach Film Fest: For Film Aficionados And Popcorn Lovers

Newport Beach Film Fest: For Film Aficionados and Popcorn Lovers

By Pat Burns

Maybe you’re like me. I find there’s something special about giving my friends an insider scoop on little-known films. Or, perhaps, you find great satisfaction in simply seeing a meaningful story on the big screen while eating theater popcorn. Either way, you might want to attend film festivals to have such an experience. It’s a way to be hip and cool with insider knowledge; see films not yet released; film’s that may never be released; films that make an impact, spread a message, inspire, enlighten and teach us and have a wonderful time, too.

The New York Film Academy has compiled one of the most accurate, comprehensive, current film festival databases available. There are 482 film festivals in the United States and after you read my two documentary film reviews, I hope you’ll check out the list at the bottom of the article.

Recently I attended the Newport Beach Film Fest and was able to screen two extraordinary films that I highly recommend.

LOSING SIGHT OF SHORE

The first film title is Losing Sight of Shore which is the remarkable journey of four gutsy women that set the bar, and a new record, for an unbelievable, never been done before, accomplishment. In a 29-foot row boat named Doris, unaccompanied and alone at sea, they set out from San Francisco, California and crossed over 8,440 miles to reach Australia.

Imagine having to row 24-hours every day, navigating across the Pacific Ocean, eating freeze dried food and sleeping side-by-side, two at a time, in the cramped nose cone of the boat. It’s remarkable to watch. Their perseverance and discipline to overcome overwhelming physical and emotional encounters kept the entire audience pinned to their seats.

newport film festival This story is worthwhile to watch, share with friends, and most assuredly, with your grandchildren.

To listen to my interview and gain a deeper understanding of what the young women went through click below to meet the film’s director, Sarah Moshman.

Here’s a link to their website and how to watch the film http://losingsightofshore.com/

I’LL PUSH YOU

I’ll Push You is the second film and another film you and your grandchildren could watch together. This documentary tells a heartfelt story of friendship, commitment, community, and perseverance. Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray tell their story of placing their lives on hold to accomplish a formidable quest. Together they took the journey to Europe to join other pilgrims in walking the 500-mile trek of the Santiago de Compostela. But instead of walking, like thousands of people before them, they went with a specially outfitted wheelchair and made the intimidating trek.

Back on November 17, 2011, I reviewed another film about the Camino de Santiago. It wasn’t a documentary it was a feature film called The Way. It’s a great story about the Camino and about family relationships.

The history of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela dates back to the ninth century to the discovery of the body of the Apostle St. James. Scholars believe St. James was a great evangelist in Spain at the time during the reign of King Alfonso II (792-842).

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Gradually, people started making their way to Santiago to pay homage to St. James at the Cathedral which was built over the site of the tomb. Between the 12th and 13th centuries, the pilgrimage became more established and more popular.

newport film festival Justin and Patrick’s Camino goal, and with this film, is for others to recognize each life is not defined by its limitation but is defined by what is accomplished in spite of those limitations. I screened this film with two very dear friends who are also film lovers. They also walked the Camino and had a very special connection with the story. At the Newport Film Fest, this film was so popular that they had an unprecedented four different screenings and each one sold out.

When a movie ends and all you can think about are the people you hope will get the chance to experience what you just did – then you know you’ve seen a very good film that’s worth telling others.

Here’s a link to their website where you can join their mailing list with notifications on when the film will have distribution. https://www.illpushyou.com/

Here is the interview with the director, Terry Parrish.

Justin and Patrick were guest speakers at TedXBosie. You can gain wonderful insights to these men’s story. Here’s their presentation:

About Film Festivals

Film Festival’s offer movie lovers an opportunity to screen unique films, and often times, world premiere films. More times than not the directors and film stars attend the screenings and there is usually a Q&A period. During Q&A you learn some of the “insider” insights from the films. If you have the opportunity of attending a film festival, I hope you will go.

Here’s the extensive list of film festivals in the USA.

About the Author – Pat Burns

Pat is the co-founder of the Orange County Children’s Book Festival; a film reporter, Regional Editor of GRAND Magazine, author of Grandparents Rock®, and the happy grandmother of four.

Christine Crosby

About the author

Christine is the co-founder and editorial director for GRAND Magazine. She is the grandmother of five and great-grandmom (aka Grandmere) to one. She makes her home in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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