HONOLULU, HI –If your keiki love animated films, we invite you to join two friends as they enter a world of fantasy and adventure of 1,000 years ago in MAI MAI MIRACLE. Having its North American Premiere, MAI MAI MIRACLE IS a tale of friendship, adventure and mystery.
HIFF is also pleased to host the Hawaii premiere of SAVING LUNA. Fast forward to the present and experience the journey of a lone baby orca who has lost his family and befriends humans off Vancouver island in SAVING LUNA. A struggle ensues as the government thinks killing him is the humane way, while his friends, made up of residents of the community and local tribes, try to save him.
The final Family Fest feature is the U.S. premiere of the New Zealand film UNDER THE MOUNTAIN, directed by Jonathan King. Starring Sam Neill, Matthew Chamberlain, and Sophie McBride, the film is a fantasy adventure about teenage twins who must thwart an otherworldly threat that exists underground amid Auckland’s beautiful landscape.
Over 170 films from 36 different countries will be featured at this year¹s festival. HIFF’s 2009 program is being held at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters from October 15-¬25. Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets are available for $10 or $9 for students, seniors, children and military. Tickets may be purchased in person at HIFF¹s box office at 650 Iwilei Road #101 across from Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters or by phone at (808) 548-5905. The film guide is available now online at www.hiff.org. For more information please visit us at www.hiff.org.
Film Synopses:
MAI MAI MIRACLE
FAMILY FEST
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Shinko, a third grade elementary school student loves to daydream about the world of one thousand years ago. Her fantasies travel far into the days of the Heian Period (year 794-1185). One day a girl called Kiiko transfers from Tokyo and joins Shinko's class where they become good friends. Before long, the two of them become engulfed in a strange incident of one thousand years ago.
Japan 2009 | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 95M
Director: Sunao Katabuchi
Cast: Mayuko Fukuda, Ei Morisako, Manami Honjou
24-Oct
MY HIFF: SAVING LUNA / EVANGELION 2.0
SAVING LUNA
ENGLISH
FAMILY FEST
HAWAII PREMIERE
Luna, a baby male orca, gets separated from his family on the rugged coast of Vancouver Island. All alone, he tries to make friends with humans. People fall in love with him, but the government tries to keep him and people apart. This leads to battles between government and First Nations, and between those who love Luna and those who think he should be killed.
Canada 2008 | 93M
Director: Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit
17-Oct
22-Oct
MY HIFF: BURNING SEASON / LAST BEEKEEPER
UNDER THE MOUNTAIN
FAMILY FEST
U.S. PREMIERE
Based on Maurice Gee's best-selling novel, UNDER THE MOUNTAIN is an exciting and suspenseful fantasy adventure set amid Auckland's breathtaking natural landscape. In this thrilling adaptation by Jonathan King, teenaged twins with a special talent face off against an ancient evil that lurks beneath the city's ring of dormant volcanoes.UNDER THE MOUNTAIN also offers sensitive insight into the importance of co-operation and accepting support in times of crisis.
New Zealand 2009 | 91M
Director: Jonathan King
Cast: Sam Neill, Matthew Chamberlain, Sophie McBride
18-Oct
19-Oct
MY HIFF: MERANTAU / PRIVATE EYE
Festival Information
Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF is the premier international film event in the Pacific and has won the praise of governments, filmmakers, scholars, educators, programmers and film industry leaders throughout the world. For the discovery and exhibition of Asian and Pacific features, documentaries and short films in the nation, it is a primary source. The festival has premiered such movies as ONCE WERE WARRIORS, THE PIANO, SHINE, SHALL WE DANCE, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. Plus, DEPARTURES, a Japanese film, had its U.S. premiere at HIFF in 2008, won the HIFF Audience Award and then went on to win the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
HIFF’s major sponsors include: Regal Entertainment Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, Halekulani, Hawaii Tourism Authority and The VILCEK Foundation.
The 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival will be held October 15-25. Images of the films can be downloaded at
http://picasaweb.google.com/
