The 23rd International Beverly Hills Film Festival kicked off its first day of screenings at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood on Wednesday.
Founded in 2001 by independent filmmaker Nino Simone, the festival is an international competition dedicated to showcasing the art and talent of emerging filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world.
The five-day event will include a series of screenings, panel discussions, VIP parties and will conclude with a Black Tie Gaga awards ceremony held at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Blue Bloods actress Bridget Moynahan was among the famous faces and names who attended the first day of the festival, which welcomes over 44,000 visitors each year, according to the organization’s website.
Moynahan (born Kathryn Bridget Moynahan), who shares a teenage son with recently retired NFL superstar Tom Brady, stepped out in a glossy black dress that hugged her fit figure and was paired with a black jacket, cropped to just under below her hips.
Opening night: Bridget Moynahan, 51, was among the celebrities who walked the red carpet to promote their new productions during the opening night of the 23rd Beverly Hills International Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood
Moynahan, 51, also wore a pair of strappy heels that wrapped around her ankles and thick black glasses.
To complete her look, the Binghamton native, New York, styled her dark brown locks long down her back but swept them back over her right ears while her hair fell over her left shoulder.
At one point, she was joined on the red carpet by Lisa Gem, the actress best known for roles on the medical drama series House, MD (2004-2011) and the comedy-drama series Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (2014-2018). .
The Boston, Massachusetts native looked fashionable and classy in a gray patterned dress, adorned with tiny white glasses that reached just above her knees.
She also wore a pair of shiny silver shoes and had her dark brown hair styled long with a healthy dose of her natural curls and a center parting.
The two ladies lead the cast of Sue Zarco Kramer’s dramedy short Swipe NYC, which Moynahan is also producing, which was screened during Block 7 of the festival program on Wednesday.
The 29-minute film from Brooklyn follows newly divorced, empty nester Syd (Edelstein) as she navigates the world of online dating. Each of Syd’s dates serves as a metaphor for reclaiming her life and regaining her sense of sexuality, confidence, empowerment and independence, according to IMDb
Swipe NYC cast includes Richard Schiff, Angela Wong Carbone, Omari K. Chancellor, David Kelsey, Justin Marcel McManus, Christiane Seidel and David Walton.
Lady in Black: The Blue Bloods actress wore a jacket over her glossy black dress
Style: The actress, who shares a teenage son with recently retired NFL superstar Tom Brady, also wore strappy heels and had her dark brown locks flowing down one shoulder
Promo Mode: The New York native appeared at the festival to promote Sue Zarco Kramer’s dramedy short Swipe NYC, which stars Moynahan and Lisa Juwel
Ron Perlman, 73, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble as he arrived to promote his new short film on the festival’s opening night.
Directed by Gabriel Beristain from a screenplay by Carroll Brown, The Caddy focuses on Enrique Villages, who isn’t exactly a kidnapper. But tell that to Jerry Stell, an American businessman in an abandoned warehouse in Mexico City. All Jerry knows is that Enrique turned on him while he was playing golf and kidnapped him at gunpoint, with the help of Gilberto, who also kidnapped Enrique. After being freed, a terrified Enrique must decide his own fate or let Jerry or the police decide for him, according to the synopsis on the BHFF website.
In addition to Perlman, The Caddy, a 15-minute short, also stars Manu Vega, Fernando Noriega and Antonio Mauri.
The 23rd International Beverly Hills Film Festival runs through Sunday April 23rd.
Moynahan joined Swipe NYC co-star Lisa Gem for a round of red carpet poses
Classy: Gemstone looked fashionable and classy in a gray patterned dress adorned with white small glasses and a pair of shiny silver shoes
Debut: Moynahan also serves as producer on Swipe NYC, a 29-minute Brooklyn film
Irene Bedard, 55, also walked the red carpet ahead of a screening of her new film On Sacred Ground.
The story revolves around a journalist and an oil company executive who find themselves on opposite sides of the battle during construction of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, which runs through North Dakota’s Standing Rock Indian Reservation, reports the BHFF website
The drama was directed by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell from a story by Josh Tickell and William Mapother.
The cast also includes David Arquette, Amy Smart, Frances Fisher, Mariel Hemingway, Irene Bedard, David Midthunder, Kerry Knuppe and William Mapother
Promo mode: Ron Perlman, 73, looked dapper in an all-black ensemble as he arrived to promote his new short film The Caddy during BHFF’s opening night
New role: Irene Bedard, 55, also stepped out on the red carpet ahead of a screening of her new film On Sacred Ground in a red mini dress and black pumps
The Itinerary: The BHFF’s five-day schedule includes a series of screenings, panel discussions, VIP parties and concludes with a Black Tie Gaga awards ceremony held at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel