Sneak Peeks

John Sayles continues to have an illustrious career that has spanned over three decades.  Notable films he's written and/or directed include: PIRANHA, THE HOWLING, BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, MATEWAN, THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR, EIGHT MEN OUT, PASSION FISH, THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH, HONEYDRIPPER (HIFF 2007), THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, and this year, HIFF is proud to present his newest film AMIGO. 

Set in U.S. occupied Philippines, AMIGO is about a war that is in many ways similar to the one we are fighting now. Rafael (Joel Torre) faces the unwelcome challenge of how to keep his people together under occupation. Ultimately he decides that cooperation with the Americans is the best way to protect the village welfare, but his compliance is considered betrayal by his brother who is a leader of the rebel fighters. Refusing to judge any of its characters, the film explores how in war all sides make compromises and no one’s innocence remains intact.

Winner of the Best Asian Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, AU REVOIR TAIPEI will be playing on Thursday, April 22nd at 8:45PM, Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. See this page to see a trailer for the film and buy tickets.



AU REVOIR TAIPEI (一頁台北 - Yi Ye Tai Bei)
Taiwan, USA, Germany 2010 | 85m | Mandarin w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Arvin Chen

Kai, a brokenhearted young man from Taipei, yearns to be with his girlfriend, who's left for Paris. He spends his days working at his parents' noodle restaurant and his nights trying to learn French at the local bookstore, where he meets Susie, a sweet but lonely girl who works there. Afraid of losing his girlfriend, and in need of money to get to Paris, he accepts a dubious offer from a local gangster to deliver a mysterious package to Paris. It's the beginning of a wild night for Kai, at the end of which he realizes that leaving both Susie and Taipei will only take him further away from true love.

The debut film from rising talent Arvin Chen, AU REVOIR TAIPEI is a love letter to a city famous for its night markets, 24 hour bookstores, and perfectly cooked dumplings. The producers have allowed HIFF to present this film 6 months in advance to its premiere in the upcoming October festival as a special sneak peek to the 30th annual edition of HIFF.

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA

THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS, is about and narrated by Daniel Ellsberg (speaker in photo above) who leaked to the press a 7,000 page study by the Defense Department about America's Southeast Asia strategies during the Vietnam War. Known as "The Pentagon Papers", it ended with the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.

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As an exclusive benefit for HIFF Ohana members, we will be showing a film for free on Wednesday, September 30th at 6:30pm at the Regal Dole Cannery theaters. The full program and schedule of films will be revealed, and our hard copy program guides will be ready. This will also be where our 2009 festival trailer premieres (trailer stars Daniel Dae Kim of LOST).

Come to our open house event at SOHO Mixed Media Bar on August 13th, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. This event is FREE and open to the public (21+). Learn more about the benefits of HIFF Ohana membership, get the latest information and programming updates about October's festival and enter a raffle to win prizes (including Interisland round trip tickets with go! airlines). If you join or renew your membership at this event, you'll get a 5% discount off the total amount.