We would like to thank Commercial Data Systems for being our presenting sponsor of the Hawaii International Spring Film Festival. COMMERCIAL DATA SYSTEMS, INC. is the source for complete computing solutions for any enterprise. They specialize in sales to government, federal, educational and commercial customers in the U.S. and the Pacific Rim.

Coming off the success of last year’s fall film festival, 2004 looks like another promising year for new and vibrant international cinema for Hawaii’s film lovers. As always, we kick off the New Year with our annual Hawaii International SPRING Film Festival (now in its 7th year), which is scheduled for April 2-8 at the Signature Dole Cannery Theatres. We’re still finalizing the film program for the spring fest, but here’s a sneak peek of films that have been confirmed so far:

Dogville (USA/Denmark)
by Lars von Trier
The beautiful fugitive, Grace, is on the run from a team of gangsters. She is reluctantly accepted into a small Colorado town, Dogville. In exchange for hiding her, she agrees to work for them. As a search sets in on the town, she finds that their support has a price. But Grace has a secret and it is a dangerous one. www.dogville.co.uk/

Bright Future (Japan)
by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Fusing several genres—science fiction thriller, male bonding melodrama, youth culture piece—Kurosawa has created an enigmatic, eerie study of marginalized young men and the dreams that burn—and die— within them. http://www.midnighteye.com/features/setreport_kurosawa.shtml

Purple Butterfly (China/France)
by Lou Ye
In PURPLE BUTTERFLY, Ye signs his charismatic signature to a part of Chinese history that is rarely dealt with: the activities of the underground anti-Japanese resistance movement during the thirties. www.asianfilms.org/china/zihudie.html

Undead (Australia)
by Michael and Peter Spierig
An avalanche of meteorites over an Australian fishing village results in an onslaught of the flesh-crazed undead making it extremely difficult for one woman to leave town and head to the big city. www.undeadmovie.com/

Twilight Samurai (Japan)
by Yoji Yamada
presented by Hawaii Elder Care Advisors
Special Encore Engagement. Winner of the 2003 First Hawaiian Bank Golden Maile Award for Best Feature at last year’s HIFF, the festival is proud to present an encore screening of a revered classic. The film stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa in a classic fable of a samurai who attempts to abandon bushido for the sake of his family. www.unijapan.org/english/list/2003/2003_35.html
www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=6861

The Land Has Eyes (Hawaii)
by Vilsoni Hereniko
Playwright and filmmaker Vilsoni Hereniko and Jeannette Paulson-Hereniko (HIFF founder) amazing debut film provides a consciously detailed portrait of Rotuman life through the eyes of Viki, a young girl coming of age in a changing world. Guided by a loving father and the lessons entrenched in stories of the Warrior Woman, Viki becomes a woman of strength and dignity on her own terms at the doorstep of a new era.
www.thelandhaseyes.com

MOVIE BUFFS
“We look forward to the film festival every year, it is our chance to meet old festival friends,” said Dot Moritsugu, 72 years young of Manoa, Hawaii. “My husband, Tosh, [78 years young] and I have been HIFF volunteers since 1983, over 20 years. My favorite memory of HIFF is the year I lost 5 pounds because we were selling HIFF tee shirts. Our living room was a warehouse of tee shirts. Every night we had to drop off the tee shirt revenues at the HIFF office and since it was so late at night, we had to get the office key hidden in a coconut tree! We grossed over $5,000.”

“This year (HIFF 2003), Dot and I have seen 11 films so far,” said Tosh Moritsugu. “My favorite film this year was SEASON IN THE SUN, while Dot’s was THE COMPANY”

“My favorite HIFF memory is the first time I met Roger Ebert and I saw Citizen Kane at the Hawaii Theatre,” said Albert Lanier of Honolulu attending HIFF since 1985 and 17th year. “My favorite films this year (HIFF 2003) were BLIND SHAFT, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, and THE COOLER.” 

The upcoming XENTOPIA, the largest celebration of Pan Asian Entertainment ever! March 25-April 1 on Waikiki Beach near the Hilton Hawaiian - It will feature 8 days and nights of spectacular concerts, films, fashion shows, games, contests, and much more—and most of the events are FREE!

The Hawaiian International Film Festival will present the AMAZING ANIME featuring action-packed animation. Held on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Monday, March 29 from 7 - 9pm. Xentopia is the Official Launch Party for WorldAsia Television, the first English language, Pan Asian cable television network for mainstream audiences.  
For more information, visit http://www.xentopia.com.

WIN A CHANCE TO MEET THE FILMMAKERS
Want to mix and mingle with the film makers this fall? Here's your chance, HIFF will be selecting 5 winners this year from the eNewsletter list to bring a friend to our annual exclusive HIFF Meet the Filmmaker's party. To sign up, visit www.hiff.org and enter your email address. Of course, you're already on the list if you received this email, but you can always increase your chances by getting your friends interested in independent films to sign up for the HIFF eNewsletter. Who knows maybe you'll be walking the red carpet! 

BECOME A MEMBER: Your support helps enrich, enlighten, educate and entertain our community.

The Hawaii International Film Festival’s (HIFF) exceptional growth could not have been possible without the support of the people of Hawaii. Your membership enables HIFF to be a viable and essential resource to filmmakers, educators, community groups, students and audiences in Hawaii and through out the Pacific Rim.

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.

Exclusive offer for Gold Members: (2) Two Spring Flash Passes - All movie access and priority seating.

For more information about how to become a member, click on the link and download the PDF at the bottom of the page http://hiff.org/hiff_gen/genpages/frmset_membership.html Or call 528-3456 ext 16.

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