NEWPORT BEACH
Gregg Schwenk has been named to head a newly formed board of directors that will operate the annual Newport Beach Film Festival, which had a doubtful future after founder Jeffrey S. Conner filed for bankruptcy six weeks ago.
Schwenk said the annual festival probably will run for about a week and will feature films selected by the board.
The nine-member board includes representatives from the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau and the UC Irvine faculty, as well as Bob Bassett, dean of Chapman University’s film school.
Bassett has said he would like to see the festival resume in the spring with films geared toward moviegoers rather than set up as a juried competition.
Conner appeared in federal Bankruptcy Court last week to face creditors, who claim he owes more than $200,000.
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