Hawaii Film Festival
Former Miss Universe Brook Lee strikes a
nostalgic pose for this year's Hawaii Film Festival poster.
HIFF reels
in its 18th yearHawaii International Film
By Tim Ryan
Festival begins Nov. 6
Star-BulletinThe Hawaii International Film Festival isn't Cannes or Sundance and doesn't try to emulate either festival. A major part of the Hawaii festival involves panels, seminars, special award presentations and receptions with top Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. And there are directors, cinematographers and industry insiders to discuss the problems of filmmaking, stereotyping of ethnic minorities, and problems filmmakers have in selling their work.
The two-week film festival -- running Nov. 6 through 19 is celebrating its 18th anniversary. This year's HIFF gathering features 108 films -- 70 features -- from 24 countries, including for the first time, France, and a section on world comedies.
The rest of the screening schedule includes premieres, including the world debut of "Restless," the first U.S.-China co-production, and the U.S. premiere of "New Rose Hotel" starring Christopher Walken and William Dafoe.
"New" was the recipient of the Critic's Award at this year's Venice International Film Festival.
Festival officials tonight will announce this year's film and event schedule at The Plaza Club.
The U.S. film "Xiu Xiu-The Sent Down Girl" directed by Joan Chen is the Festival's opening film. It will screen at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Hawaii Theatre.
The film is set during the final stages of the Cultural Revolution, when a pretty young woman ventures into the countryside as part of the "People's Education" program. Chen will attend the opening night festivities.
Other Gala Presentation films are: "Dance Me to My Song" (Australia) co-starring Rena Owen of "Once Were Warriors"; the Philippines' film "In the Navel of the Sea"; and "The Soong Sisters" (Hong Kong).
Films have been divided into 19 sections: Colors & Flavors of Comedy (10 films); Hawaii Film & Videomaker Panorama; Pasifika; Discoveries From Japan (eight); China's Changing Face (14 films) including the world premiere of "The Promise of Endearment"; "Flower Seas, Rain Season"; the controversial "An Unusual Love"; Korean Cinema Perspectives; Philippines Centennial Celebration; Contemporary Indian Cinema; Australasia: Australia & New Zealand; Spotlight on Thailand; The Independent Spirit: U.S. & Canada; Independent Feature Debuts; Cinema for the Ear; So, You Wanna Make A Movie?; The Whole Wide World; Beyond the Fringe; Films for the Family; IMAX(IMUM) Images; and for the first time, "Focus On: France," featuring four films.
Filmgoers also will able to view, in one screening only, the IMAX spectacular "Everest," the most profitable IMAX feature film ever.
Jurors for the Golden Maile and Silver Maile awards, feature films and documentaries, respectively, are: Jonathan Dennis, an authority on New Zealand cinema and founding member of the New Zealand Film Archive Nga Kaitiaki o Nga Taonga Whitiahua; Philippines director Marilou Diaz-Abaya; John Powers, film critic for the National Public Radio program "Fresh Air"; actress Ming-Na Wen, who appeared in "The Joy Luck Club" and is the voice of Disney's "Mulan"; and filmmaker Yim-Ho, director of "Homecoming" and "Red Dust."
The Golden Maile feature film nominations are: "The Sound of One Hand Clapping (Australia); "My Rice Noodle Shop (China); "Via Satellite" (New Zealand); "The Terrorist" (India); and "Spring in My Hometown" (Korea).
The Silver Maile documentary nominations are: "Fury for the Sound: The Women at Clayoquot" (Canada); "Habitual Sadness" (Korea); "Journey to Beijing" (China/USA); "Manuel Ocampo: God is my Co-Pilot" (USA); and "Nadya's Village" (Japan).
As in previous years, the best strategy to see the films you want is to plan ahead. This statewide event was attended by 65,000 last year.
Ticket sales to the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 28. Tickets are $6 each; $5 for Hawaii Film Fans members, senior citizens, military, and PIC and FAVAH members with valid identification. Tickets for some short films and videos are $5 and $4, respectively.
Hawaii Film Fans members can already order their tickets.
The 1998 Program Guide featuring a dreaming Brook Lee on its cover will be published in Honolulu Weekly the week of Oct. 28 and will also available at Starbucks.
The popular "Stop, Look and Listen II: A Film, Media and Technology Forum" continues this year with "Roger Ebert's Democracy in the Dark."
Film critic Ebert returns with his shot-by-shot analysis of notable feature films using a stop-action CAV laser-disc player so that those attending have the opportunity to contribute their observations. Discussions revolve around visual strategy, theme, story, acting, dialogue, locations, or whatever comes to mind.
Tickets are free to presentations, panels and special screenings in the "Stop, Look & Listen" section, although tickets can be hard to come by. And there is a limit of two tickets a person for this section.
The Movie Museum will present "Hawaiian Voices: Bridging Past to Present," a 60-minute documentary by Eddie & Myrna Kamae. The film pays tribute to the role of elders as bearers of the cultural flame.
The Kamae film focuses on the legacies of three respected Hawaiian elders. They are Auntie Ruth Kaholoa'a, 93, from the Big Island; Lilia "Mama" Hale, 85, from Oahu and Molokai; and Kahu David Ka'alakea, 78, of Maui.
The Bravo/Independent Film Channel in cooperation with Pacific New Media presents "Making Ultra-low Budget Feature Films: The Art of Affordable Technology."
Peter Broderick, President of Next Wave Films, provides a practical and comprehensive insight into the art of making ultra-low budget films. Next Wave Films was formed by Independent Film Channel to provide finishing funds to exceptional ultra-low budget, English-language feature films from around the world.
Topics covered will include the breakthrough in affordable digital video cameras, the latest editing software options for desktop computer systems, improvements in video to film transferring, progress in digital video and video projection, as well as some ultra-low budget case studies.
Certain to be a popular discussion will be "On-Screen Violence: How Much Is Too Much? A panel of experts moderated by Roger Ebert discusses the popularity of violence as depicted in film and television images worldwide.
Some of the issues that will be addressed are: cultural differences in these depictions, differences in ratings standards and censorship between the U.S. and Asia, the phenomenon of "copycat" crimes and inherent legal issues, and the thin line between art and exploitation.
Confirmed panelists are: Syndicated, Pulitzer-prize winning film critic Roger Ebert (moderator); First Amendment and Media Attorney Jeff Portnoy; University of Hawaii, West Oahu English professor Henry Chapin; and former Canadian government censor Bruce Fletcher.
Theatres, Screening Sites
Hawaii Theatre, downtown Honolulu
Tickets
Formerly the Hawaii International Film Society or HIFF Ohana, now the Hawaii Film Fans, brings together Hawaii's film lovers before, during and after the annual Hawaii International Film Festival.HIFF members receive freebies, discounts and deals at video stores, movie houses, and film magazine subscriptions. Participating film-friendly partners include The Honolulu Academy of Arts Theatre, The Movie Museum, Tower Video, On the Juice, Gordon Biersch and more. Members also get priority ticket selection and Flash Pass privileges during the Hawaii International Film Festival.
All Members Receive:
Additional benefits and rates for each membership level are:
Priority ticket selection: ticket to Spring Film Festival; 1 ticket to October sneak preview; 6 tickets to Film Festival in November
Priority ticket selection: 2 tickets to Spring Film Festival; 2 tickets to October sneak preview; 12 tickets to Film Festival in November
Bronze Flash Pass (admission to Hawaii Theatre only) OR Priority ticket selection of 20 HIFF tickets; priority ticket selection: 12 tickets to Spring Film Festival; l2 tickets to October sneak preview; reception with filmmakers
Silver Flash Pass (admission to ALL venues) OR priority ticket selection of 40 HIFF tickets; priority ticket selection: 12 tickets to Spring Film Festival; 2 tickets to October sneak preview; invitations to ALL HIFF Receptions: Academy Awards Party; Soiree with International Jurors; Governor's Reception with Filmmakers; Festival Awards Ceremony; Reception with Filmmakers
Two Gold Flash Pass (admssion to ALL venues) OR Priority Ticket Selection of 80 HIFF tickets; priority ticket selection: 12 tickets to Spring Film Festival; 2 tickets to October sneak sreview; Invitations to ALL HIFF Receptions: Academy Awards Party; Soiree with International Jurors; Governor's Reception with Filmmakers; Festival Awards Ceremony; Reception with Filmmakers.
For information call 528-FILM.
