NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL TO PRESENT OFFICIAL PREMIERE OF SHARKWATER

The Newport Beach Film Festival and the Orange County Film Society will present the official premiere of the award-winning documentary Sharkwater. The screening will take place on Thursday, November 1st at 7:00pm at the Regency Lido Theater located at 3459 Via Lido in Newport Beach. The event will feature an introduction by the film’s director and writer Rob Stewart, who was recently featured on Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show and Larry King Live.

“The Festival is exceptionally proud to host the theatrical premiere of Sharkwater here in Newport Beach. We are thrilled to continue our strong tradition of presenting outstanding environmental documentaries that raise awareness of important issues affecting our oceans and sea life,” stated Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

With its oceanfront location, proximity to the surf wear manufacturing capital of the world and close ties to environmental organizations such as Surfrider; the Newport Beach Film Festival has emerged as the epicenter for surf and ocean related cinema. Sharkwater will join Step Into Liquid and Riding Giants in becoming part of the Festival’s impressive history of ocean themed film premieres.
Filmed in 15 countries in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater (2007, Documentary, Canada, 89 minutes, PG) takes audiences to the most shark-rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations. What one comes away with is a story about the beauty of life on earth and our role in protecting its amazing balance.

Part biologist, part investigative reporter, Stewart follows the trail of the multi-billion dollar shark fin trade and sets off a chain of events that has to be seen to be believed. His adventure becomes a dangerous mission involving espionage, corrupt governments, mafia rings, his arrest and a glimpse at his own mortality. In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. A confrontation between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala results in a dramatic confrontation with a pirate Guatemalan fishing boat. But that’s just the beginning. As they become involved in a gunboat chase, face corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, they are forced to flee for their lives.