Editor

Academy Award® nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson will receive the prestigious International Achievement in Acting Award from the 25th Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival.

“Samuel L. Jackson is truly a remarkable worldwide star,” says Chuck Boller, “He is that rare cross-over actor who can command multi-million dollar salaries and pack seats in blockbusters year after year while still making time to deliver consistently unforgettable performances in groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed, independent films.”

Mr. Jackson stars in the upcoming feature “Freedomland” (opening in December), delivering a remarkable performance that already has been generating lot of Oscar ® buzz. Whether playing a galactic bad-ass (STAR WARS I-III), charming doctor (EVE'S BAYOU, which he also produced), reluctant action flick tag-along (DIE HARD 3, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT), emotionally shattered father (A TIME TO KILL), physically shattered villain (UNBREAKABLE), wisecracking hero (THE INCREDIBLES), pure action-adventure (JURASSIC PARK, DEEP BLUE SEA), or a coach in the recent box-office hit COACH CARTER, Mr. Jackson's strong performances have provided a solid foundation to many a tent-pole movie.

"Sonny Chiba has been a major influence in martial arts movies for over thirty years – a Maverick!" said Chuck Boller, Executive Director of the LVHIFF. Sonny Chiba receives the inaugural LVHIFF Maverick Award. “We are proud to honor Sonny Chiba with the first LVHIFF Maverick Award. The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival has in 2005 inaugurated a MAVERICK AWARD, to be given to individuals with unique and varied careers in international cinema; individuals with edge and grit.” said Chuck Boller.

This year’s Waikiki Sunset on the Beach on October 22nd, is a tribute to the late Kayo Hatta featuring her two films in one night – FISHBOWL and PICTURE BRIDE. PICTURE BRIDE (1995) was Hawaii’s first independent film production that was invited to both the Sundance (where it won the Audience Award) and Cannes Film Festivals. The film will be preceded by Kayo’s final film, FISHBOWL (2004), a comical coming-of-age tale based on Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s novel WILD MEAT AND THE BULLY BURGERS. Boller said, “Kayo was a major force in Hawaii filmmaking and this Sunset on the Beach event is in honor of her memory and legacy.” Hatta tragically passed away in July.