Letters From The Editor:

Is the Newport Beach Film Festival local, regional, national or international in scope and influence?

I asked organizers where the festival ranks a couple of weeks back and essentially got this answer: all of the above.

It is a local event with roots planted firmly in Newport Beach.

It is a regional event that draws Hollywood south.

It is a national event, with filmmakers flying in from the other coast to show their films or look for distribution.

It is a global festival that showcases work from abroad.

Sundance, it’s not.

Toronto, it’s not.

But make no mistake: The Newport Beach Film Festival matters on the film festival circuit. The proximity to Los Angeles helps. The parties do, too.

Even so, this is what matters: the quality of the films.

The Newport Beach Film Festival is growing in stature, both commercially and artistically, and putting the spotlight on our community. It can even claim an Oscar-winning debut, “Crash.�

Those of us in the newspaper business care about the Orange County connections. It’s easy to do this time. The festival has threads running through Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and countywide. Sometimes the films are shot here. Other times the filmmakers and producers grew up or live here. And in some cases Orange County is an inspiration.

There is “Modjeska Woman Triumphant,� a piece on a Polish actress who died in Newport Beach in the early 1900s and whose namesake is Modjeska Canyon.

There is “Five Star Day,� made by guys with ties to Huntington Beach and Corona Del Mar.

A documentary about people who think doing right by the environment is good business, “So Right So Smart,� features a Corona del Mar resident.

“8: The Mormon Proposition,� part of which was shot in Orange County, looks at the proposition that outlawed same-sex marriage, as well as some of its Orange County supporters. On a related topic, “If They Ask,� which is about the military’s policy against gay servicemen and women revealing their orientation, has O.C. angles.

Our favorite pastime, surfing, will get plenty of screen time. “Cypher Visions� features surfers like Kelly Slater shredding. And then, for those who can get in, “Living It Forever� visits the relaxed 1950s and 1960s surf scene — thanks to a couple of Newport Beach filmmakers.

Sports will be all over the screen. You may want to check out “Beyond Limits,� about a Mission Viejo mountain climber with cerebral palsy. “Pelada,� a film made by San Clemente resident, looks at pick-up soccer around the world.

The list goes on, but I won’t. Some two dozen of the 364 films have Orange County ties.

JOHN CANALIS is editorial director for the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at (714) 966-4607 and [email protected].