Coming Soon: HIFF

The 25th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) begins in just 3-1/2 weeks. It's going to be an exciting festival this year, as you'll find out when HIFF's 2005 site launches tomorrow. There was a record number of submissions this year, so you know there'll be lots of good stuff to see. HIFF is even going to keep a blog during the fest.

Programmer Anderson Le has announced that festival honorees will include Sonny Chiba, known to American audiences as ninja-turned-sushi chef Hattori Hanzo in "Kill Bill Vol. 1," and Zhang Yimou, "5th generation" Chinese film icon and director of "Raise the Red Lantern," "Ju Dou," and more recently, Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers."

Also, Roger Corman, known alternately as "King of the Bs," "King of the Drive-Ins," and "Godfather of the Indies," will be honored. Corman directed a version of "Little Shop of Horrors" starring a young Jack Nicholson (a 35mm feature famously shot in 2 days and 1 night) and a slew of B-horror films adapted from Edgar Allan Poe stories. Corman also had a keen eye for talent, and gave early breaks to many now famous directors, including Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, Peter Bogdanovich, and Martin Scorsese. Corman's company, New World Pictures, also served as the American distributor for Ingmar Bergman's "Cries and Whispers" and Federico Fellini's "Amarcord." Perhaps not so coincidentally, a new film category, US Independents, makes its debut this year at HIFF.

There are many more great films, programs, and luminaries I can't tell you about, so make sure to check HIFF's site tomorrow to find out for yourself.

>> Hawaii International Film Festival
>> Godfather of indies to be honored [Hnl Star-Bulletin, 9/25/05]

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