"The Good, The Bad, And a Sidewalk" is among
the films in the 'Ohina Short Film Showcase Saturday
at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

New festival features
short films

Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

The 'Ohina Short Film Showcase unspools for the first time at noon, 3 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, followed by a reception at 8:30 p.m. It's free.

Festival organizer Jeff Katts of Pacific Focus, a regular volunteer at other Honolulu film festivals, felt the town needed a showcase for up-and-coming filmmakers, who invariably start off with short subjects. "For the most part, anyone can do a film with enough planning and creativity," said Katts. "The best way to learn is simply by watching as many films as possible."

There are 12 entries in several genres. Most are from Hawaii.

"Am I The One?" -- Five women audition for the same role in a movie; by Jeff Katts.

"Ang Lihm Ni Inay (Mama's Secret)" -- A family is brought together by a personal tragedy, by Jaymee Carvajal and Beverly Pascua.

"Anywhere, Cindy ... Anywhere" -- A single man discovers a mysterious woman, by Jeff Katts.

"Billy Gets a Job" -- A homage to silent films, by George Y. Russel.

"Borderline" -- A suicidal man confronts a surprising past, by Yuichi Kurokawa and Fredrick "Ted" McLaughlin.

"The Good, The Bad, And a Sidewalk" -- An epic struggle on the concrete, by Glenn Grimes and David Ciano.

"One Or Two Things About ..." -- Three friends meet a stranger and exchange stories, by Jeffrey Chu.

"Ramshackle" -- A science-fiction adventure set in Hawaii's future prisons, by Jason "Jayhawk" Suapaia and Damian Zukeran.

"Takeover" -- A music video from Transmuter, by Dave Daniels and Romell Regulacion.

"Thirsty" -- A meditation on love and suicide from Yuichi Kurokawa.

"Tribute" -- A music video by James Sereno and Bradford.

"Twilight" -- A daughter deals with her mother's Alzheimer's Disease, by Ryan Kawamoto and Kamuela Kaneshiro.

HIFF brings films to Dole The Hawaii International Film Festival, Film Fans and Signature Theatres are teaming up to show "City of Glass," the popular Hong Kong film, and "Adrenaline Drive," the premiere of a new Japanese comedy. Both films are at 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Dole Cannery Theatres. "City of Glass" has been nominated for 11 Hong Kong film awards, and is a love story set over a span of 30 years, directed by Mabel Cheung of "The Soong Sisters." "Adrenaline Drive" concerns an innocent couple swept up in bizarre adventures, by Yaguchi Shinobu, who also made "My Secret Cache." Admission is $7; $6 with HIFF membership card. Information: 528-3456, Ext. 21. Star-Bulletin

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