NEWPORT BEACH
The Newport International Film Festival is officially dead, organizer Jeffrey S. Conner said this week.
Conner’s statement came as he faced his creditors, who contend he owes more than $200,000, at federal Bankruptcy Court. It was his first public appearance since he filed for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy last month.
The news of the festival’s demise has shocked residents and volunteers alike, who thought the festival was establishing itself as a premier event in Newport Beach.
The festival had a number of problems, including celebrities who agreed to appear at screenings but canceled at the last minute.
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