HALEKULANI GOLDEN ORCHID AWARDS
The Golden Orchid is bestowed upon the narrative and documentary films that best express artistic and technical excellence and promote cross-cultural understanding. Like the rare endemic orchids of our native Hawaii, these awards recognize singular achievements amid collective beauty. Each nominated film furthers the Hawaii International Film Festival mandate to entertain, enlighten and empower. Our international jury will select the films that articulate this manifesto consistent with the cross-pollination of words, ideas and images that comprise the kinetic and visceral power of film.

HALEKULANI GOLDEN ORCHID JURY

NARRATIVE:
Rick Kinsel, Executive Director The VILCEK Foundation
Roy Lee, producer (The RING, The GRUDGE, The DEPARTED, The STRANGERS, The EYE)
Georja Skinner, Chief Officer, Creative Industries Division (DBEDT)

DOCUMENTARY:
Cliff Curtis, actor (WHALE RIDER, FRACTURE, SUNSHINE, LIVE FREE or DIE HARD)
Don King, director (BEAUTIFUL SON)
Grace Lee, anchor KGMB 9 TV

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Vote for your favorite feature film, documentary or short film playing at LVHIFF. Ballots will be distributed for the first screening in Honolulu of every eligible film during the film festival. No pens, pencils or i.d. required. Tear along the edge of the ballot from 1 (terrible) to 5 (excellent) and drop it in the ballot boxes as you exit the theater. Special thanks to Oshima Company CPA, LLC for tallying ballots.

NETPAC AWARD
Founded in 1990 by Cinemaya and UNESCO, the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian film throughout the world. The prestigious NETPAC award is given at select international film festivals to promote Asian cinema by spotlighting exceptional works and discovering new talent.

The NETPAC award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Pusan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawaii. LVHIFF is the only film festival in North America given permission to present the NETPAC award.

FILM IN HAWAI‘I AWARD
The Film In Hawai'i Award is presented by the State of Hawai'i to the film or television entity that has significantly contributed to promoting the local industry. The 2008 recipient will be announced at the LVHIFF award ceremony.

The Halekulani Golden Orchid Award takes the form of a handcrafted umeke la'au, or "calabash" bowl, the highest and most beautiful achievement of the ancient Hawaiians.

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU VISION IN FILM AWARD
The city will present the "City and County of Honolulu Vision In Film" Award which seeks to recognize industry players with broad insight into film: artistically, commercially and charitably. Previous honorees have included The American Film Institute, the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, directors Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou.

HONOLULU MAGAZINE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
Short films are a multi-fold of art, critical observation and creativity that lift spirits and change moods in a matter of minutes. Honolulu Magazine will award $1000 to the best short film at the festival.

SHORTS JURY

Gerard Elmore, director ALL FOR MELISSA
Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Features Editor HONOLULU ADVERTISER
Molly Watanabe, publisher, SMART Magazine

ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING
LVHIFF is honored to present and spotlight a distinguished, versatile actor in film that has consistently amazed critics and audiences with their choice of roles in cinema. This year's achievement in acting award will be announced at the press conference and awarded to the recipient person at the awards reception.

VOD VIEWERS CHOICE AWARD POWERED BY OCEANIC TIME WARNER CABLE
Oceanic Time Warner Digital Cable subscribers will have the chance to support Hawaii filmmaking by voting for their favorite Hawaii-made short film at this year's LVHIFF! Starting September 29, just surf to NGN-on-Demand channel 680 and Select, view and vote for your favorite short film! The film that garners the most votes will be announced at LVHIFF's Awards Ceremony.