The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is a film festival held in the United States state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks. It also features two smaller festivals, a one week festival in the Spring known as the "Spring Showcase" or the "Spring Fling" and a three day Korean Film Festival in August called "K-Fest." 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. The Hawaii International Film Festival is the only film festival that screens films across an entire state, with screenings in Honolulu, Waikiki, and Kaneohe. The festival also has encore screenings of films on the islands of Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
The HIFF states that it "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." It is the largest such "East meets West" film festival in the United States.
The festival receives sponsorship from numerous corporations every year, with the largest contributor being Louis Vuitton. The festival is also known as the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival.
Each year, renowned film critic Roger Ebert picks one film to be shown at HIFF and he sometimes travels to Hawaii in order to introduce it to the audience. The Festival gives out several awards: the top prize is named the Golden Maile and is also known as the First Hawaiian Bank Golden Maile Award. In 2004 an award for achievement in acting was given to Maggie Cheung, a second was awarded to Samuel L. Jackson in 2005. Sonny Chiba received Maverick Award in 2005. Ken Watanabe received honors in 2006.
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