In the eclectic world of Venice Beach, three artists searching for purpose find their lives unexpectedly intertwined.
Sua, a talented young Korean violinist, spends her days busking along the boardwalk while contemplating her dream of performing on the world's great stages. Classically trained and deeply influenced by the artistic traditions that connected composers, painters, and creative visionaries throughout history, she sees music as part of a larger artistic conversation. When she meets Jacques, a French photographer captivated by her music, an unlikely romance begins to blossom between two outsiders navigating life in a foreign land.
Just blocks away, Evan, a gifted artist struggling on the verge of being unhoused, survives by sketching tourists while holding onto one final dream: an exhibition that could change the course of his life.
As a prestigious orchestral opportunity suddenly places Sua on the path she has always imagined, she becomes drawn into Venice's vibrant community of artists and changemakers. There she discovers an unexpected movement transforming discarded materials into works of beauty and meaning. Inspired by the possibilities of creative reuse and sustainability, Sua joins forces with Evan, blending influences from music, photography, art history, and upcycled materials into a new form of artistic expression that challenges everything she thought success would look like.
As love, ambition, and artistic purpose collide, each must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the future they desire.
Set against the iconic beaches, canals, and creative energy of Venice, California, Alchemy in Venice is a moving story about reinvention, connection, and the transformative power of art. In a place where nothing—and no one—is ever truly discarded, the greatest act of creation maybe the courage to transform ourselves.
Doors open 30 minutes prior to film start. For questions, contact Newport Beach Film Festival.