Newport Beach Film Festival Presents Official Premiere of "Highwater"

PRESS RELEASE

The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) in partnership with Regency Theatres and Apostrophe Films is pleased to present the official theatrical premiere of Dana Brown's new adventure film Highwater on Friday, July 24 at 7:30 pm at the historic Regency Lido Theatre at 3459 Via Lido Drive in Newport Beach. The special screening of Highwater (2009, Documentary, 90 min.) will kick off the film's week long run in Newport Beach at the Regency Lido Theater, the location where Brown's films Dust to Glory and Step Into Liquid opened to sold out audiences. Continuing the momentum of its popular Action Sports Film Series, the Newport Beach Film Festival is proud to welcome filmmaker Dana Brown back to Newport Beach for the launch of his new film Highwater. Brown is scheduled to attend the event and participate in a post-screening Q&A session. Tickets for the event are $15 and available at www.regencymovies.com

Directed and written by Dana Brown and produced by C. Rich Wilson, Highwater chronicles the action-packed Vans Triple Crown professional surfing competition which takes place from November to January on the magnificent North Shore of Oahu. The Vans Triple Crown is comprised of a series of challenging and historic contests that conclude the pro surfing world tour and ultimately crown a world champion: the OP Pro Hawaii in Haleiwa, the O'Neill World Cup on Sunset Beach and the grand finale, The Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.

An Apostrophe Films production, Highwater features interviews and footage of adrenaline charged surfers from around the world who gather each year in Hawaii to ride the notoriously powerful waves breaking at the height of the winter swell season. From surfing legends to rising stars, Highwater spotlights surfers from Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, Sunny Garcia, Kalani Chapman, Jon-Jon Florence, Malik Joyeux, Mark Healy, Poncho Sullivan, Pat O'Connell and Jessie Billauer. The film highlights champions of women's surfing, such as Sofia Mulanovich, Chelsea Georgeson, Rochelle Ballard, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Kealla Kennelly, Carissa Moore and Bethany Hamilton competing in The Roxy Pro at Haleiwa and the Billabong Pro.

Highwater dives deep into the heart of the North Shore with uncensored portrayals of locals and a look into the surf spots' rich history. Cinematographer Steve Matzinger and world renown underwater shooters Larry Haynes and Mike Prikette, capture footage of incredible surfing, along with the essence and beauty of the North Shore surrounds.

Highwater features original music written for the film by Switchfoot, an alternative rock/power pop band from San
Diego, rising ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Sprung Monkeys' Steve Somers, and guitarist and singer/songwriter Ryan Ferguson, with an original score by Phil Marshall. Other noteworthy soundtrack artists include Matt Costa, Wolf Mother, Rodrigo y Gabrielle, The Mother Hips, and southern California soul band Slightly Stoopid.

A portion of the proceeds of the event will benefit the Newport Beach Film Festival, a 501 ©3 non profit organization. For additional information, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com