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Watch the HIFF 31 Festival Trailer!

Posted September 29, 2011 - 2:33pm by HIFF

The HIFF 31 festival trailer was unveiled last evening at our members sneak peek screening. The trailer was created by Humanhand, the design agency that also created this year's key visual artwork. We show this trailer before every HIFF screening.

Credits:

Shot & Cut: Luke Aguinaldo
Production & Art Direction: Warren Daubert, Justin Cravalho
Original Score: Spirit Sounds by Kenny Endo - Remixed by Matthew McVickar

HIFF visits the 1st Annual Bejing International Film Festival

Posted May 16, 2011 - 9:20am by HIFF

Chuck Boller (Executive Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival since the year 2000) recently visited the 1st Annual Bejing International Film Festival (April 23-28) as a special guest, along with other film festival directors (such as Sundance, Berlin, Toronto, Busan). He also attended a special film festival director's panel which was held to help the new festival get ideas and learn from a variety of experienced professionals.

Read more for his take on this first edition and his experiences, since he has traveled to China often over the years.

Exclusive screening of HEAVEN'S RAIN in Honolulu on March 17

Posted March 9, 2011 - 4:30pm by HIFF

We wanted to let you know about an opportunity to see HEAVEN'S RAIN, a faith-based film that is showing for one night only here in Honolulu on Thursday March 17th. Filmmaker Brooks Douglas, star Erik Vogel and co-star Taryn Manning (HAWAII Five-O) will be in attendance for this screening and will host a post-film Question & Answer session. This screening is sponsored by the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Read more below for details about the film...

Thank You For A Great Spring Showcase!

Posted April 23, 2010 - 4:49pm by HIFF

MAHALO! HIFF's 30th Anniversary Year is off to a tremendous start thanks to everyone's strong support of HIFF's Spring Showcase. A special THANK YOU to our HIFF Ohana Members! I particularly enjoyed talking with Members about your favorite films and HIFF's upcoming Fall Festival. 

MAO'S LAST DANCER was a good collaboration with Ballet Hawaii and a strong audience favorite. Watch for its theatrical release this summer. Several of the films from the Spring Showcase will be in Regal Cinemas in the near future so you will have a chance to see your favorites again and to recommend first-time viewing to your friends.  

THANKS to our Spring Sponsors who helped make the Showcase possible: 

  • Regal Entertainment Group
  • Hawaii Tourism Authority
  • Halekulani
  • Electric Pencil
  • OrangeRoc
  • Castle & Cooke Hawaii
  • Hawaii Pacific Entertainment
  • Liquid Planet Studios
  • Modern Luxury Hawaii Magazine
  • This Week Magazine
  • Aloha Menus
  • Center for Pacific Islands Studies,
    University of Hawaii at Manoa
Chuck Boller, HIFF Executive Director

Silent Auction Items at Oscar Night America 2010

Posted March 1, 2010 - 9:01am by HIFF

Here is just a sampling of the fabulous items that we will have at the Oscar Night America 2010 Silent Auction. We will have over 100 items to bid on. See you at Oscar Night America!

  • Louis Vuitton Monogram Kalahari PM Handbag (retail value $2,500)
  • Hermes "Les Cles" Silk and Cashmere Shawl (retail value $980)
  • Fendi "Selleria" Stainless Steel Watch with Signature Hand-Stitched Grained Calfskin Strap (retail value $875)
  • Halekulani Table One Dinner for 6 at Orchids (retail value $750)
  • Azure at The Royal Hawaiian - Dinner for 4 in a Cabana (retail value $600)
  • Napa Valley Wine Tour (starting bid $4,500)
    • 3 Night Stay at Luxurious Villagio Inn and Spa in Napa Valley
    • Customized 8-Hour Private Napa Valley Wine Tour including luxury car service with personal guide for the day, pre-select your choice of wineries and lunch menu, tour state of the art wine making facilities, gourmet picnic lunch
    • Your choice of Hot Air Balloon Ride and Champagne Brunch or Dinner for two at REDD Restaurant
    • (2) 50 minute wellness massages

HIFF Proudly Congratulates Oscar Nominees Featured at 2009 Festival

Posted February 12, 2010 - 8:22am by HIFF
HONOLULU, HI (February 11, 2010) – The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is pleased to announce that six films featured at the 2009 fall festival have been nominated for Academy Awards garnering a total of 12 Oscar nominations.

“Every year we strive to bring the best films to share with our audiences in Hawaii and we are so pleased that several of the films from HIFF 2009 are being recognized by the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences,” says HIFF executive director Chuck Boller.  “We were thrilled at last year’s HIFF Oscar Night® America party to experience DEPARTURES’ win as Best Foreign Language Film, since the only place one could have seen the film in the entire United States prior to its Oscar win was at HIFF 2008, which presented DEPARTURES’ US Premiere.  We hope a HIFF film wins again this year.”

The 2009 Oscar nominated films include THE YOUNG VICTORIA, which received 3 nominations for art direction, costume design and makeup; PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE, which received 6 nominations for best actress in a leading role for Gabourey Sidibe, best actress in a supporting role for Mo'Nique, director, film editing, best picture and adapted screenplay; MIRACLE FISH, which received a nomination for best live action short; and FOOD INC. and BURMA VJ, each of which received a nomination for best documentary feature.

HIFF Hosts Official Oscar Night® America Party at Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Posted January 12, 2010 - 1:11pm by HIFF
HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL HOSTS OFFICIAL OSCAR NIGHT® AMERICA PARTY AT ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT
Tickets Now on Sale

HONOLULU, HI (January 7, 2010) – The excitement and glamour of Hollywood’s biggest night is coming to The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, A Luxury Collection Resort, on Sunday, March 7th as the Hawaii International Film Festival hosts HIFF’s Oscar Night America party. Guests are invited to experience the thrill of the 82nd Academy Awards® and black tie affair during an advanced telecast, which will allow party guests to see the ceremony before anyone else in the Islands.

Oscar Night® America benefits HIFF, which is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF’s celebration in Honolulu is one of 50 official Oscar viewing parties in cities across the country and is the only official Oscar Night® America party in Hawaii.

2009 Award Winners

Posted October 20, 2009 - 5:56pm by HIFF

Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Best Narrative Film: Empire of Silver (directed by Yao Shuhua)

Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Best Documentary Film: Petition (directed by Zhao Liang)

Maverick Award: Maggie Q, Warrior and the Wolf

PUMA Emerging Filmmaker Award: Children of Invention (directed by Tze Chun)

NETPAC Award: Castaway On The Moon (directed by Hey-Jun Lee)

City and County of Honolulu Vision in Film Award: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse, LOST

Mahalo Nui Loa Award: Jack Bender & Jean Higgins, LOST

Video-on Demand Award: Ajumma, Are You Krazy? (directed by Brent Anbe)

Audience Awards for Best Narrative, Best Documentary, Best Short will be announced Monday, November 2nd.

Filmmakers: How do you see Honolulu's Chinatown?

Posted September 13, 2009 - 7:25am by HIFF

Hawaii International Film Festival, Showdown in Chinatown and the Chinatown Film Project present a challenge to local filmmakers: to create an original short film 5-7 minutes in length that addresses the question, "How do you see Honolulu's Chinatown?". All entries are welcome, films are due September 18th.

SIFF Opening Night Video Clip

Posted August 25, 2009 - 7:36pm by HIFF

Here's a short video clip of our Executive Director Chuck Boller, Anne Misawa (Academy for Creative Media - University of Hawaii), Smart eXchange students (from UH) and members of the New Zealand Film Commission walking the red carpet on Opening Night of the 12th Annual Shanghai International Film Festival, in front of the Shanghai Grand Theatre. The opening film that night was "Wheat", a Chinese historical drama directed by He Ping.