Editor

2010 is a momentous year for the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) as it celebrates 30 years as the premiere film festival in the Pacific!

It is a venue where filmmakers can connect with each other and the public says HIFF executive director Chuck Boller. "Numerous exciting milestones and productive and profitable encounters have happened at HIFF over the last 30 years, creating opportunities for future projects and friendships."

Of the many significant events that have happened at the festival, here is a list of the top ten greatest moments in HIFF history:

1. Quentin Tarantino meets Director Katsuhito Ishii, of Japan, at HIFF 1998, They later collaborated on KILL BILL.

2. DEPARTURES, from Japan, has its North American premiere at HIFF, wins HIFF 2008 Audience Award, then goes on to win 2009 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

3. Legendary Chinese Directors honored at HIFF: In 1985, HIFF gives Director Zhang Yimou its Cinematography Award, the first award ever given to him by a film festival, followed in 2005 by HIFF Vision in Film Award. Ang Lee presented with the VISION IN FILM Award in 1997.

4. LOST Day at HIFF 2009 to commemorate this amazing cultural phenomenon, special event featuring
LOST co-creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, as well as cast members.

5. China's Maggie Cheung is recipient of the first HIFF Achievement in Acting Award in 2004.

6. HIFF has long been one of Roger Ebert's favorite festivals. Ebert and Quentin Tarantino travel to the Big Island to reopen the Palace Theatre in 1998.

7. NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award is created at HIFF in 1993.

8. HIFF launches Sunset on the Beach at Waikiki in 2001.

9. Korean Wave hits Hawaii with appearances from biggest K-Stars such as Song Kang-ho (2002), Lee Byung-hun (2005), Ju Jin-mo and Ha Ji-won (2007), Jung Woo-sung (2008).

10. VARIETY calls HIFF one of the "50 Unmissable Film Festivals."

This fall, the festival will run from Thursday, October 14th through Sunday, October 24th at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters. HIFF is the largest "East Meets West" festival in the United States, screening hundreds of films every year from countries across the globe.

http://www.hiff.org/