NEWPORT BEACH

Agent Leigh Steinberg and his wife, Lucy, announced this week that they will be official sponsors of the Newport Beach Film Festival, which starts Thursday.

The Steinbergs have committed to a one-year, $50,000 sponsorship, a move that organizers say helps solidify the position of the recently restructured festival.

Steinberg has been involved with the local film festival in various capacities for years, but never before on this scale. Building ties to the movie world also fits into Steinberg’s long-range career plans, which he said could include producing and directing films.

Steinberg has already been involved, to a degree, with the creative side of the movie world. The agent in the movie “Jerry Maguire” was based on him, and he recently served as an advisor to the film “Any Given Sunday.”