Hawaii International Film Fest Spans Pacific Cinema and the World

Details

Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 06 November 2015 03:08

Written by Renzo Adler

Seoul Searching

Comprised of films from Hawaii, across Asia, and representing Pacific Islanders, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has grown from it’s humble beginnings in 1981, to now feature over a hundred films and events from November 12 to the 22nd. Presented at theaters across Honolulu, the HIFF includes special segments focusing on films and filmmakers from Hawaii, Japan, China, Korea, India, and Europe along with shorts, documentaries, and the Eat Drink Film showcase focusing on films about food.

Opening the festival is the South Korean court drama, The Throne, directed by Joon-ik Lee. Set in 1762 during the Joseon dynasty, King Yeongjo (played by Kang-ho Song from Snowpiercer and The Host), must tangle with the dilemma of having to execute his son, Prince Sado, who has been accused of treason.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s (Tokyo Sonata, Cure) film, Journey to the Shore, is about Mizuki (Eri Fukatsu), who is greeted one day by her husband, Yusuke (Tadanobu Asano), who she thought was dead for the last three years. Yusuke takes Mizuki on a trip to help her understand where he has been these last three years. Present at the festival will be Asano, who will be presented with the Maverick award for his work in film (Ichi the Killer, Zatoichi, Survive Style 5+, and even Marvel's Thor).

As part of the Centerpiece section of the festival, the Todd Haynes (Mildred Pierce, Velvet Goldmine) film Carol is a drama set in 1950’s New York starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett engage in a tangled relationship that is threatened by jealousy.

The New American Filmmakers showcase highlights the work of foreign born directors and reflects the impact of immigrant cultures on the lingua-franca that is American cinema. Films include the Zoe Bell vehicle from New Zealand, Camino, the Indian film Margarita, With a Straw, and the Korean film, Seoul Searching.

To learn more, go to: http://www.hiff.org/

Hawaii International Film Festival
November 12 - 22, 2015

Various locations throughout Honolulu

• < Prev
• Next >