The Newport Beach Film Festival knows how to end on a high note—literally. As the curtains close on October 24, 2024, the festival will hit audiences with the emotional crescendo that is Music by John Williams, a new documentary celebrating one of the most legendary film composers of all time. Director Laurent Bouzereau and producer Frank Marshall will be honored that night for their incredible contributions to the arts—because sometimes the good guys do get recognized.
The festival’s closing night at the Regal Edwards Big Newport isn’t just about screening a film; it’s about giving due credit to those who keep art alive beyond Hollywood’s blockbuster machinery. Frank Marshall will receive the Arts Champion Award, a tribute to individuals who push creativity beyond the corporate spreadsheet. And Laurent Bouzereau, who’s made a career documenting the legends of cinema, is snagging the Artist of Distinction for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking. That’s a mouthful, but let’s boil it down: the guy knows how to tell compelling stories, and Music by John Williams is no exception.
So, what’s Music by John Williams all about? If you’ve ever felt a chill run down your spine during the opening notes of the iconic Star Wars or had your heart swell to E.T. soaring across the moon, then you’ve already felt the impact of John Williams. This documentary, co-produced by Lucasfilm, Amblin Documentaries, and Imagine Documentaries, takes us from Williams’ days as a jazz pianist to his fifty-four Oscar nominations and beyond. From blockbuster franchises like Indiana Jones and Harry Potter to concert halls worldwide, Williams’ music has shaped how we experience cinema—and this film is finally giving him the close-up he deserves.
In his latest project, Bouzereau pulls back the curtain, interviewing artists and filmmakers who’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with Williams. Frank Marshall, who is as much a Newport Beach treasure as the ocean itself, is part of the impressive production team. Add in some of the biggest names in filmmaking—Spielberg, Grazer, Howard—and you’ve got a doc that promises to be as epic as the maestro’s scores.
And hey, if you can’t catch it at Newport Beach, don’t worry. Music by John Williams also opens the AFI Fest on October 23 and will start streaming on Disney+ from November 1. Disney might be the big studio villain here, but at least they’re letting Williams’ brilliance reach a broad audience.
NBFF Co-Founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk calls it “an intimate and accessible portrait of a true living legend.” He’s not wrong. The Newport Beach Film Festival couldn’t have chosen a better way to mark its silver anniversary of showcasing the best in indie cinema. From beginning to end, this festival celebrates creativity, and the closing night honors the power of music to make those stories timeless.
If you’re in town, catch it live. If not, mark your calendar for November 1. Music by John Williams is one of those rare documentaries that promises to both educate and give you all the feels—something that the blockbuster factories rarely deliver anymore.
