|
Screen Time
Katherine Nichols
|
Awards focus on Asia-Pacific film projects
Opportunities for filmmakers keep coming. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards began accepting submissions Sunday for its 2008 awards. The jury is looking for excellent films that "reflect their cultural origins," according to press materials. And since the Asia-Pacific region is so vast - encompassing more than 70 countries, including Russia, New Zealand, Samoa and Turkey - the possibilities are endless.
Beyond the grand prize, awards focus on excellence in categories of feature film, animation, documentary, directing, screenplay, cinematography and acting. APSA conducts the competition with CNN International, the International Federation of Film Producers Association and the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The last day to enter is Sept. 1. Contestants will be short-listed, then sent to an international jury for final judging. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on Nov. 11 in Queensland, Australia. For details, visit www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/filmentries.
The film fest world opens up to youngsters again this summer when the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival returns at 3 p.m. Sundays from this weekend to July 20 at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Art Auditorium. This year the UH-Manoa Outreach College has partnered with the Sheraton Waikiki, which serves as a satellite venue. Two additional screenings take place at the hotel at 7 p.m. June 29 and July 6. The festival travels to more than 100 locations across the country each year and exposes kids to a selection of big studio flicks (sneak peeks), independents and shorts that manage to entertain without gratuitous violence, foul language or an excessive show of skin. Best of all, the films are free, and some of the screenings finish with giveaways. For more see our HiLife section or visit www.outreach.hawaii.edu/summer.
Wild stunts, exploding freighters, crashing helicopters, disappearing islands, dying characters (here's hoping Jin returns in flashbacks - with his shirt off!) and a few lone survivors forced to live a lie helped the action-packed season finale of "Lost" become the most watched television show last week with 12.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Of course, it helped that crowd favorites "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" had completed their seasons. But that doesn't detract from the two hours of compelling television, which gave Korean star Yunjin Kim a chance to show stuff worthy of an Emmy nomination.
Car fanatics can look forward to a fifth year of the local series "Ohana Road," with model/actress Yasmin Dar now co-hosting alongside Dale Payson, beginning this summer. The show introduces new cars from Chevrolet, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Pontiac, GMC and Buick. Gear heads also will enjoy the new setting aboard the USS Port Royal Guided Missile Cruiser, according to Ohana Road producer Bill Maloney. The show airs at 6 p.m. Saturdays on KITV-4, repeating at 11 p.m. Sundays, and on the auto channel. Visit www.ohanaroad.net.