For cinephiles in Orange County, the Newport Beach Film Festival was simply too short. Founded in 2006, the Orange County Film Society (OCFS) was created to cater to both film lovers and filmmakers.
“We had requests from both sides of the field: the audience and the filmmakers” says Todd Quartararo, co-founder of OC Film Society. “Filmmakers had a film, but no festival to screen it; the OCFS was the solution.”
The OCFS screens studio and independent films before they are released: previous films include The King’s Speech, Argo, Hitchcock, and other films that have gone on to receive critical acclaim and prestigious awards. This society is a paid membership, priced at $129. Membership includes a minimum of 12 preview screenings for a year long subscription.
The Orange County Film Society does more than just screen films, though. It also invites actors, directors, screenwriters, scholars, and other members of the film industry to attend events to discuss their films. Notable attendees include Academy Award screenwriter of The King’s Speech, David Seidler, and The Godfather III’s Andy Garcia, among others.
Screenings are held in multiple locations: Regal Westpark 8 in Irvine, Regency South Coast Village Theatre in Santa Ana, Regency Lido Theatre, and Edwards Big Newport 6 in Newport Beach.
