HIFF tiff causes
rift, but new baby
a lifting gift

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

A week ago a major controversy loomed over the Hawaii International Film Festival, threatening to overshadow the annual event that starts tomorrow.

Director Paul Wagner pulled his pro-Tibetan film "Windhorse" from the bill after festival officials removed it from competition in the prestigious Golden Maile Awards, fearing the Chinese government would withdraw its country's six films.

The story received national attention and festival director Christian Gaines found himself spending more time defending his decision than working on the 18th annual event itself

A week later, Wagner acquiesced; ironically, two of the Chi-nese films were pulled this week because of bureaucratic problems unrelated to "Windhorse." Then, within a 48-hour span, three good things happened to the festival and Gaines.

Celebrated writer-director Quentin Tarantino announced that not only would he attend but would premiere a couple of his favorite cult films, including the '70s classic "Switchblade Sisters," and might even sit in on a panel discussing movie violence.

The Philippines' film "In the Navel of the Sea" was chosen to be that country's entry in the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Category this year.

And Gaines' pregnant wife delivered a healthy boy three days earlier than the due date -- Nov. 6 -- day one of HIFF.

"Yes," Gaines sighed yesterday "there are a lot more good things than bad things happening right now."

And there are lots of films to be shown in 14 days: about 110 including 70 features from 24 countries. For the first time there is a series of films from France, and a selection of animated shorts from Iran. There are numerous world premieres, including "Restless," the first United States-China co-production and the American premiere of "New Rose Hotel."

Jury members for the Golden Maile awards will be introduced tomorrow at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. They are John Powers, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Jonathan Dennis, Laura Kim and Yim-Ho. Actress Joan Chen and critic Roger Ebert also will attend; Tarantino has been invited.

The festival opens tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Hawaii Theatre with Chen's directorial debut of "Xiu Xin--The Sent Down Girl," open to HIFF members with tickets.

The world premiere of the American film "Lani Loa: The Heavenly Passage" -- filmed in Hilo -- will be screened on Oahu at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Hawaii Theatre.

Hilo gets a double treat this year when the festival debuts Nov. 14 with the grand reopening of the Palace Theatre.

Several notable panel discussions will be held during the festival on Oahu. Check the HIFF schedule, available at all Starbucks stores, for times and dates.

For HIFF ticket or membership information, call 528-HIFF (4433).