Get in the Know...

• Go see a special screening of TAE GUK GI (THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR) on August 31, 2004
• Exclusive Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival Sneak Peek
• Win a chance to attend the exclusive 2004 Golden Maile Awards
• Become a HIFF Ohana Member

HIFF Sneak Preview

HIFF is proud to present an advance sneak preview of TAE GUK GI (THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR).

To get a free pass*:

• Stop by HIFF's office on August 27, 2004 between 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
• HIFF's Office is located at 1001 Bishop Street, ASB Tower, Suite 745
• Tickets are extremely limited so it is first come, first served!

*Each pass admits one. Limited to one pass per person

TAE GUK GI (THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR) South Korea
From director Kang Je-gyu (SHIRI) comes South Korea's biggest blockbuster ever! An epic tale of brothers who are forced to defend their home during the Korean War, TAE GUK GI stars Won Bin (FRIENDS) and Jang Dong-gun (CHINGU, THE COAST GUARD, ALL ABOUT EVE). With realistic and sometimes frightening battle sequences that rival SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, TAE GUK GI ultimately resonates as a powerful and gripping anti-war drama, as families are ripped apart for the sake of ideology and nationalism, and through fate, are reunited years later through forgiveness and reflection. TAE GUK GI broke all box-office records in South Korea to become the most successful film of all time. The Hawaii International Film Festival is proud to present this special presentation! For more information, check out http://www.taegukgi2004.com/

LVHIFF 2004 Preview

The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival will offer a unique and exciting array of films from all over the world to please all sorts of taste buds, from the profane and surreal, to the light-hearted and sensual. Here is an exclusive sneak peek at the diverse films that will be showcased at the October 21-31, 2004 Festival.

ARAKIMENTARI (Japan, USA)
Tokyo's most famous photographer, Nobuyoshi Araki, is immortalized in Travis Klose's captivating documentary. A controversial artist whose sometimes obscene work has seen the inside of over 350 publications and art galleries in L.A., New York, Italy, Belgium, and his own hometown of Tokyo. Eccentric, straightforward, but, always a gentleman, Araki acknowledges his spotlight in this documentary and offers personal insights regarding his perennial inspiration. For more information, check out http://www.arakimentari.com/

CUBA LIBRE (Cuba, USA)
Cuba, 1958 -- the last year of the Batista regime. Fidel Castro's revolt has the tide going its way. This turmoil seems distant to the small town of Holguin, where the charismatic fixer Che (Harvey Keitel) looks after his family and friends, humoring police captain Rosado (Daniel Lugo) while helping the rebels. At the neighboring Frexes Theater, Che's grandson, the Boy (Andhy Mendez) and his beloved grandmother Beta (Diana Bracho) watch endless Hollywood movies every night, wrapped in their magic. For more information, check out http://www.dreamingofjulia.homestead.com/

PRIMER (USA)
Winner of the Grand Jury and Alfred P. Sloan Prizes at this year's Sundance Film Festival, PRIMER is faintly reminiscent of both the thrills and obscure machinations of PI. PRIMER takes you on a ride and remains engrossing, even if you don't know what's happening. It forces the audience to crack the puzzle of its story line at the same time its characters do. Shot in compelling visual language and impressively acted, PRIMER demands repeated viewings and is one of the few films that make revisiting it worthwhile. For more information, check out http://primermovie.com/

SWIMMING UPSTREAM (Australia)
In 1950s Brisbane, Australia, Tony Fingleton (Jesse Spencer) beats the odds to become a champion swimmer in spite of his overbearing, alcoholic father (Geoffrey Rush) and long-suffering but quietly heroic mother (Judy Davis). Overshadowed in his father's eyes by his brothers, it's only when Tony displays an extraordinary swimming talent that he feels he has a shot at winning his father's heart -- and maybe even Olympic gold. Based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Fingleton. For more information, check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326664/

SEPTEMBER TAPES (USA)
Less than a year after the attacks on the World Trade Center, journalist Don Larson and two others go to Kabul to find the truth not being reported by the media. The trio meets members of the Northern Alliance as well as rebels, and Larson is arrested for taking pictures of police. In jail, he learns of Babak, a bounty hunter on the trail of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The journey takes a drastic turn when the men follow Babak into the middle of a fierce gun battle and barely survive a barrage of bullets, missiles, and errant U.S. bombs. When Babak deserts them, the men are left to face their own demons. For more information, check out http://www.septembertapes.com/

STEAMBOY (Japan)
Rei is a young inventor living in the U.K. in the middle of the 19th century. Shortly before the first ever World Expo, a marvelous invention called the "Steam Ball," behind which a menacing power is hidden, arrives at his door from his grandfather Roid in the U.S. Meanwhile the nefarious Ohara Foundation has sent men to acquire the Steam Ball so that they can use its power towards their own illicit ends. A decade in the making, STEAMBOY, from the creator of AKIRA, is one the most anticipated animated films in years. For more information, check out http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/steamboy/

JASMINE WOMEN (China)
Featuring Zhang Ziyi (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON), Joan Chen (THE LAST EMPEROR) and Jiang Wen (WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH), JASMINE WOMEN tells the story of one family's struggle to overcome its tragic history, as each daughter repeats the mistakes of her mother. Veteran cinematographer and first-time director Hou Yong sets his film in the 1930's, 50's and 80's against the backdrop of an ever-changing Shanghai. The film is all the more remarkable for the fact that Zhang Ziyi and Joan Chen each play three roles. Zhang Ziyi plays the young Mo, the young Li and Hua, while Joan Chen plays Mo's mother, the older Mo, and the older Li. The title of the film is significant, as in Chinese; Jasmine is pronounced "Mo Li Hua." For more information, check out http://www.monkeypeaches.com/molihuakai.html

Spread the eNews!

Have a friend sign up for HIFF eNews and they will be entered into a drawing that could win them an exclusive invitation to the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Awards Reception where they will be hobnobbing with film stars and directors at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. First Hawaiian Bank will be presenting their Golden Maile Best Feature and Best Documentary Awards. We will also be giving The Blockbuster Audience Awards for Short, Documentary, and Feature Film, as well as The Film in Hawaii Award. Tell a friend to sign up and maybe they will invite you to come along to an event that honors the creative arts. Tell them to sign up by October 15 to enter our drawing. All they have to do is sign up for eNews at www.hiff.org.

BECOME A MEMBER: Our HIFF Ohana members are in the Know. They enjoy exclusive screenings and literature on films and are the first to know about parties and special events. Being a member of HIFF is a gateway to a community of film enthusiasts as well as people who are excited about contributing to the arts. Members are a vital part of our organization and enables HIFF to be a viable and essential resource to filmmakers, educators, community groups, students, and film lovers.

Become a HIFF member: Receive the Program Guide in the mail, advance film screening and ticketing before the general public plus discounts on tickets for the festival.

For membership information, visit www.hiff.org, or you can call 528-3456 ext 11.

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