Every year the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) starts in October and begins an experience of film exploration that is unlike anything else in the state. This year, HIFF celebrates its 31-year anniversary with the Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. Films will be shown at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theatres running from Thursday October 13, to Sunday October 23.
Three films have been announced for the Hawaii International Film Festival:
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
Straight from this year's Cannes Film Festival, this dark drama stars the incomparable Tilda Swinton as the mother of a teenage boy who went on a high-school killing spree. She tries to deal with her grief -- and feelings of responsibility for her child's actions -- by writing to her estranged husband played by John C. Reilly.
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI
In the basement of a Tokyo office building, 85 year old sushi master Jiro Ono works tirelessly in his world renowned restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. As his son Yoshikazu faces the pressures of stepping into his father's shoes and taking over the legendary restaurant, Jiro relentlessly pursues his lifelong quest to create the perfect piece of sushi.
BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY
The film traces Kevin Clash's rise from his modest beginnings in Baltimore to his current success as the man behind Elmo, one of the world's most recognizable and adored characters. Millions of children tune in daily to watch Elmo, yet when Kevin walks down the street he is not recognized. Pivotal to the film is the exploration of Jim Henson's meteoric rise, and Kevin's ultimate achievement of his goal to become part of the Henson family of puppeteers. In addition to puppeteering Elmo, Mr. Clash is arguably the creative force behind today's Sesame Street, producing, directing and traveling around the globe training other puppeteers. Includes interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Carroll Spinney, Joan Ganz Cooney, Marty Robinson, Fran Brill, and Bill Barretta.
HIFF showcases over 250 films including many U.S. and world premieres, and over time has become a meeting place for numerous prominent film delegates. The Festival is much more than a multitude of film screenings. HIFF attracts filmmakers, actors, directors, producers, government officials, film industry leaders and movie enthusiasts from all over the world every year continuing to embrace festival season.
On a yearly basis, HIFF draws an audience of 80,000 or more from around the state, nation, and throughout the world. Public and private events including an awards presentation, special film screenings, and educational programs for primary and secondary students will also be ongoing throughout the 11 days of the festival.
Known to many as a premiere international film event, HIFF’s programming has two particular mandates: to be a festival of record for emerging films from Asia and the Pacific, and to present the top festival films around the world, annually screening from over 45 countries. Since its inception, more than 1.3 million people from throughout the world have shared HIFF film screenings and insights.
HIFF Executive Director Chuck Boller and Actress Maggie Q at HIFF 29
HIFF is a non-profit organization that continues the advancement cultural exchange and media awareness in the Pacific-rim. Generous sponsors and donators have allowed HIFF to add to an impressive slate of fine films that have been featured in the past. Notable films include: BABEL, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON, DEPARTURES, THE KITE RUNNER, and TWILIGHT SAMURAI.
With a new presenting sponsor in Halekulani Hotels & Resorts for the upcoming fall festival, HIFF shows no signs of slowing down its efforts to bring the festival to new heights. Variety has dubbed HIFF as “One of the 50 unmissable film festivals.” Roger Ebert, a frequent visitor to the festival, has been quoted saying that HIFF is “A premiere showcase for films of the Pacific Rim.” His latest visit was for HIFF’s monumental 30-year anniversary that happened last October.
As a continuing effort to help future aspiring filmmakers, HIFF is features education programs for youths and adults during this year’s fall festival. All of the activities will be held from October 13-23. These programs include:
- Guest Filmmaker Program (filmmakers speak to students during classrooms on Oahu and video conferences statewide)
- Cultural & Visual Literacy Program (free film screenings for schools on Oahu)
- Student Showcase (a free screening of the best videos submitted by students)
- Free Public Seminars (topics range from filmmaking to social issues)
- Filmmaker Q&A Program (after-screening discussions with filmmakers)
This year’s guest speakers who have volunteered to share their expertise with Hawaii’s youth include Ryan Kawamoto, director of 6B; UH faculty member Lisette Marie Flanary, director of NA KAMALEI and ONE VOICE; James Sereno, director of BROKEN PARADISE; Anne Misawa, professor at the Academy for Creative Media; and Bob Bates director of INGREDIENTS HAWAII.
Ryan Kawamoto
Ryan is a television and film director represented by Kinetic Productions and Kinetic Films. He has directed award-winning advertising projects in Hawai’i including two “Best of Show” Winners in the Hawaii Advertising Federation Pele Awards and was named 2004 Outstanding Young Advertising Person of the Year by Ad2 Honolulu.
Kawamoto also co-wrote and directed a half-hour comedy televison show on KFVE called, THE AUGIE SHOW featuring local comedian Augie Tulba, and continues to direct all of Augie T.’s comedy DVD projects.
He has written and directed several short films. THE SAND ISLAND DRIVE-IN ANTHEM won the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film at the 2005 Hawaii International Film Festival. His latest film, THE BACK DOOR written by Hawai’i author Chris McKinney (THE TATTOO) is slated to premiere at HIFF 2011 as a chapter of the 6B feature film, featuring stories about the darker side of Hawai’i.
Kawamoto is currently in pre-production on a feature-length documentary about the Hawai’i Japanese American internment experience during World War II. Kawamoto was born, raised, and continues to reside in Hawai’i.
Lisette Marie Flanary
As an independent filmmaker and a hula dancer, Lisette Marie Flanary creates documentary films that celebrate a modern renaissance of the hula dance and Hawaiian culture. She is the writer, producer and director of Lehua Films and her first documentary, AMERICAN ALOHA: HULA BEYOND HAWAI’I received a CINE Golden Eagle Award when it aired on the critically acclaimed P.O.V. series on PBS in 2003.
Her award-winning film, NA KAMALEI: THE MEN OF HULA, featuring legendary Hawaiian master hula teacher and entertainer, Robert Cazimero, screened in numerous film festivals around the country. She recently directed the documentary feature, ONE VOICE, which follows the young song directors at the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest. It was nominated for an Emerging Director Award at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Film Festival in 2010 and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Hawai’i International Film Festival.
Lisette is currently directing and producing a documentary entitled TOKYO HULA which explores the explosive popularity of hula in Japan. It will be the final film in a trilogy of documentaries on the hula dance. Lisette is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in Film and Television Production and received her MFA in Creative Writing at the New School University. Having lived in New York City for over twenty years, Lisette is joining the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Indigenous/Native Creative Media at the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawai’i in the fall of 2011.
James Sereno
James grew up in Hawaii and graduated from the USC school of Cinematic Arts. He worked in Advertising at Team-One, producing spots for Lexus and America West Airlines. Sereno then switched to directing and formed Kinetic Productions. James has won numerous awards over the years including a Cannes Bronze Lion, Clios, and Beldings. His short film SILENT YEARS, won first runner up, at the prestigious British Academy Awards (BAFTA/LA) and his trailer for the 25th Anniversary of the Hawaii International Film Festival was invited by Roger Ebert to screen at his own Ebertfest. James is finishing up his first feature film entitled BROKEN PARADISE. The film stars Dante Basco.
Anne Misawa
Anne Misawa grew up in Hawaii. Having graduated from University of Southern California’s Graduate Film and Television Program, she has worked internationally in various aspects of film production. Her primary work is as a Director and as a Cinematographer.
Her work as cinematographer include many award-winning films-- 
TREELESS MOUNTAIN, (directed by So Yong Kim, Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and New Directors/ New Films, 2008), TIME OUT, (directed by Xelinda Yancy, executive produced by John Singleton, HBO Award, 2004), SALT, (directed by Bradley-Rust Gray, Caligari Award for Innovative Filmmaking at Berlin International Film Festival, 2003), and LIV, (directed by Edoardo Ponti, executive produced by Robert Altman and Michaelangelo Antonioni, Venice International Film Festival, 1998). Her work in TREELESS MOUNTAIN was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography in 2010. Her most recent work is in JACK & DIANE, directed by Bradley-Rust Gray to be released in late 2011.
Directorial credits include-- 
WAKING MELE, (Sundance Film Festival, 2000), and EDEN’S CURVE, (Emerging Film Best Feature Award, NCGLFF, 2003). Anne teaches cinematic production at the Academy for Creative Media, University of Hawai’i where she produced & directed the feature length documentary, STATE OF ALOHA, which has garnered various awards, (Halekulani Golden Orchid Award Nominee for Best Documentary at Hawaii International Film Festival, 2009).
Bob Bates
Robert Bates is a Honolulu resident best known as the creator and director of The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, for which he received the James Beard Award. Since 1993, Robert has produced and directed more than five-dozen commercials and public relations films for clients in North America, and Hawaii.
Robert has directed three award-winning films about the history and culture of Hawaii including GANBARE, HIFF’s 1994 Silver Maile winner, O’HAWAII, HIFF 1995, and THE FIRST BATTLE, 2004. Robert is the writer and director of INGREDIENTS, HIFF 2009, and INGREDIENTS HAWAII, HIFF 2011. He is the co-writer and director of HOTEL ST., which is one of five narrative films included in the Shortlist, which makes its world premier at HIFF 2011.
The Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani begins the 4th decade of the best “East meets West” film event in the pacific. To prepare for the many film screenings, membership passes can be found at hiff.org/membership. These passes give members exclusive discounts and access to events throughout the year. Plan ahead to get the best seat in the house for films from all walks of life.
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