HIFF Tips

MAKE YOUR TIME AT HIFF A HIT!

You have your film schedule but are you ready to make the most of your time at HIFF? For those of you who want a well-rounded festival experience, check out the list below for the best ways to make your time at HIFF a hit!

1. GRAB LUNCH AT THE HIFF CAFE
A new addition to this year's festival, the HIFF Café provides a tasty alternative to movie theatre fare. Purchase a gourmet picnic lunch at the café, meet friends over a beer, or take some time out to relax and enjoy one of our café chats! To get to the café, take the escalators outside the theater building to the second floor.

2. TRY A FREE TASTING!
While we're on the topic of food ... check out a film in the EAT, DRINK, FILM section. After some of the films, you can learn more about different foods from around the world in a complimentary tasting in the HIFF Café. This will give you a chance to further your knowledge and treat your palette to some tasty tidbits presented by local restaurants who have mastered their respective styles! These tastings are sure to please the foodie in everyone! Simply hang on to your ticket stub to ensure yourself a taste!

3. CHECK OUT A CAFE CHAT
Grab a tasty lunch and check out a Café Chat. These small intimate (not to mention free!) discussions will touch on a variety of topics led by film professionals and members of the community! Some topics include the slow food movement, Confucianism, and critical film analysis.

4. ATTEND A SEMINAR
Want something more in-depth than a Café Chat? Check out one of our topic-driven seminars! This is your chance to hear film professionals and scholars discuss topics related to films in the festival and the industry at large. Topics include reasons for making Hawaii the location for your next film, the rewards and challenges of creating films based on books, and the unique experiences of being an American immigrant filmmaker! (And like the café chats, these free seminars won't burn a hole in your wallet!)

5. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!
Are you a fan of attending the big films every year? Maybe you're prone to taking in only comedies or movies from a certain area of the world? This is your year to try something new and different! Check out a documentary or a short! You never know what new types of films are out there just waiting for you to fall in love with them until you give them a try!

6. AVOID PLAYING THE LINE GAME
Not a big fan of waiting in those long festival lines? Here's a little tip for anyone who wants to avoid the HIFF crowds ... attend a weekday afternoon matinee! Matinees have traditionally shorter lines than HIFF's primetime screenings during evening hours! So if you'd rather avoid the masses, these afternoon screenings may be just for you!

7. NEED A PLACE TO "END UP?"
So you've just seen an incredible film and now you want to go somewhere to unwind and chat about what youíve just witnessed? Take a trip to HIFF's official watering hole and Honolulu's chicest art gallery lounge - thirtyninehotel - located at 39 N. Hotel Street between Smith & Nuuanu (808-599-2552). It is without a doubt the best place to "end up" after one of HIFF's amazing films! From the Dole Cannery parking lot, turn right onto Iwilei Road, turn another right onto King Street, and turn left onto Bethel Street. Parking is available on your left between King & Hotel Streets at Chinatown Gateway Municipal Garage.

8. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!
The next time you need a company you can trust, try one of our sponsors! You'll find a list of them here. These companies share common values with you. They believe in the importance of independent, artistic, and international cinema. Their investment in HIFF reflects a commitment to Hawaii's quality of life, culture & arts, and educational programming. Without these sponsors, HIFF would not be possible. So speak up with your dollars and tell them that sponsoring HIFF matters to you!

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