31st Hawaii Int'l Film Fest welcomes all with aloha to prestigious showcase in island paradise

HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALHonolulu, Hawaii - USAOctober 13 to 23, 2011 In the Spotlight this week is the 31st Annual HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (HIFF), widely regarded as one of the world's premier international film festivals focusing on new Pacific Rim cinema. Last year, this audience-driven festival presented over 254 films from 47 countries and attracted over 65,000 movie-lovers who came to experience the sounds and images of excellent filmmaking from around the world. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has attended HIFF for many years, noting that it's "a launching pad for early films by younger directors." Variety firmly states that HIFF is one of "50 Unmissable Film Festivals," Entertainment Weekly claims that it's a "must attend" event, and Travel & Leisure Magazine flatly declares it to be "one of the ten best film festivals around the world." Honolulu's enthusiastic audiences flock to HIFF's centralized location at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 near Honolulu's famous Chinatown, and HIFF offers numerous perks and incentives for guest filmmakers including complimentary transportation, festival passes, and special discounts on airfare and lodging. The Festival also partners with the Honolulu Film Office and offers exclusive filmmaker tours to exotic sites around Oahu, home to some of the biggest film and television productions shot on the island including JURASSIC PARK, HAWAII FIVE-0, and LOST.     UPCOMING DEADLINE April 30, 2011 - Regular Deadline Upgraded projects save $5 on this deadline MISSION AND OBJECTIVE Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to advancing understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific, and North America through the global medium of film. MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Past editions of HIFF have featured premieres of many acclaimed titles, including Julie Taymor's THE TEMPEST, Tony Goldwyn's CONVICTION, Daniel Alfredson's THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, Lee Daniel's PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE, Korean box-office sensation THE HOST, Pedro Almodovar's VOLVER, and Alejandro González Iñárritu's BABEL. HIFF is acclaimed the world over for being a must-stop festival to identify emerging themes and trends from the latest films from Asia and the Pacific Rim. If you're looking for a venerated and established film festival in an incomparable paradise where East meets West, submit to the Hawaii International Film Festival today!