Surf Fest and HIFF

Big Island movie fans will have two great
film festivals to enjoy this fall.

by Barbara Fahs

Kona Surf Film Festival

The fifth annual Kona Surf Film Festival will delight surfers and fans of this genre from Thursday, November 29 through Saturday, December 1 at the Aloha Theater in Kainaliu. Presented by Folklore Productions and the Aloha Theater and Performing Arts Center, this fun film romp will include at least two movies each night-all of them about a favorite Hawaiian sport and obsession-surfing!

Surfersvillage.com reports that the Festival is a benefit for Kamoa Point, "which holds priceless historical and cultural value as a favorite surfing spot of Kamehameha the Great, and the site for the yearly Makahiki competitions that continue up until the present day." Included during the festival will be giveaways, raffles and t-shirts, with a percentage of proceeds going to local environmental groups. The film schedule will be announced soon.

Surfer and surf film producer Chad Campbell has been producing this event since its start in 2002. He's still seeking surf films from around the world: documentaries, action, fiction, surf zombie, docudramas, anything to do with surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, or kite surfing. Entries accepted until November 1:

Chad Campbell/Kona Surf Film Fest

74-4908 Mamalahoa Hwy

Holualoa, HI 96725

Louis Vuitton Hawai'i International Film Festival

The 27th annual Louis Vuitton Hawai'i International Film Festival happens October 26, to 28 at the Palace Theater in Hilo and the Makalapua Cinemas in Kailua-Kona. HIFF spotlights films from Asia and the Pacific Rim, some of which have never been shown in the United States. This festival began in 1981 and is the "primary source for the discovery and exhibition of Asian and Pacific feature films, documentaries and videos in the nation," according the organizers; Hawaian filmmakers will represent Hawai'i in what they call a "culturally accurate way."

On Saturday, October 7, a filmmaking seminar will be held at the Palace. Moderated by Big Island Film Commissioner John Mason and filmmaker panelists living on the Big Island, this informative event will cover general filmmaking. Sign up through the Palace Theater to attend (contact info below).

Movies are shown on all five main Hawaiian Islands, and last year up to 70,000 people attended statewide. This year, a special "Rising Star" award will be given to Korean actor Lee Jun-Ki during festivities at the Hawai'i Theater in Honolulu on October 19. His new movie, as yet untitled, will premiere during the Honolulu Festival.

With film critics Roger Ebert, Elvis Mitchell, and noted Tokyo film scholar Donald Richie attending every year, HIFF provides filmmakers tremendous exposure. Entertainment Weekly describes the film festival as a "must attend" and Ebert calls it "a point-of-entry festival for new Asian cinema to North America."

The program was not final at our press deadline, but will include a Focus on Taiwanese Cinema, several Korean documentaries and a section titled Eat, Drink, Film. The October 6 issue of HIJ will provide a schedule and additional details.


Hawai'i Intl.
Film Fest
Oct. 26-28
Palace Theater
38 Haili St., Hilo
934-7777
hilopalace.com

WTC-Makalapua Stadium Cinemas
Kailua-Kona
327-0444
cinematreasures.org/theater/15790/hiff.org

Kona Surf
Film Fest
Nov. 29 to Dec. 1
Aloha Theatre
Kainaliu
322-2323 (box office) or
322-2122 (ticket hotline)
alohatheatre.com
myspace.com/konasurffilmfest.
surfersvillage.com

On the Web
alohatheatre.com
folkloremovie.com
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