The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) proudly brings Hawaii’s favorite and most popular pastime to the big screen in its Surf Cinema showcase.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
HONOLULU, HI (Tuesday, October 6, 2009) – The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) proudly brings Hawaii’s favorite and most popular pastime to the big screen in its Surf Cinema showcase, featuring big surf stars such as Rob Machado in THE DRIFTER, and Garret McNamara and Kealii Mamala in WHITE THUNDER: GLACIER SURFING. Plus, the biggest surf star of them all is Oahu’s North Shore where surfing legends and history are made in the surf documentary HIGHWATER.
Anyone who knows anything about surfing knows Rob Machado. He is one of the world’s greatest surfers and stars in THE DRIFTER, a HIFF Surf Cinema presentation. After years of surfing and being in the spotlight, Machado loses his passion and focus for surfing and abruptly takes off for Indonesia. Through his encounters with Indonesians from an isolated village, he gradually finds renewal for his life and for surfing again.
When you think of surfing, you think of places like Australia, Hawaii and California – not Alaska. In the documentary WHITE THUNDER: GLACIER SURFING, Garrett McNamara and Kealii Mamala (surf champions) venture to Alaska to attempt glacier surfing. This documentary records their ambitious surfing adventure as they try to prove that they’ve got guts and attempt to achieve glory.
HIFF’s final Surf Cinema showcase is HIGHWATER. The North Shore is known as the Mecca of surfing. Its awesome waves can be intimidating, powerful, and challenging for amateur and professionals alike. But the wave’s magnificence and height is what draws surfers nearly every year to Hawaii. HIGHWATER takes you on an intimate ride into the world of surfing to experience the excitement and mayhem that ensue every winter on the North Shore of Hawaii.
Over 170 films from 36 different countries will be featured at this year¹s festival. HIFF¹s 2009 program is being held at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters from October 15¬ - 25. Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets are $10 or $9 for students, seniors, children and military. Tickets may be purchased in person at HIFF¹s box office at 650 Iwilei Road #101 across from Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Theaters or by phone at (808) 548-5905. The film guide is available now online at www.hiff.org. For more information please visit us at www.hiff.org.
Film Synopses:
THE DRIFTER
Surf Cinema
World Premiere
With nothing more than a backpack, tent and surfboard, surf champion, Rob Machado heads for distant regions of Indonesia. While looking for the perfect waves and respite from the crowds, Rob stumbles upon an isolated village and during his stay becomes a part of the community. In addition to its life affirming narrative, THE DRIFTER is filled with incredible surf footage amid the beautiful backdrop of Indonesia that viewers will be sure to enjoy.
United States 2009 | 60M
Director: Taylor Steele
Featuring: Rob Machado
21-Oct 8:15 PM Dole
23-Oct 8:30 PM Dole
MY HIFF: RIO BREAKS / HIGHWATER
WHITE THUNDER: GLACIER SURFING
Surf Cinema
World Premiere
In the summer of 2007, two big-wave surf champions, Garrett McNamara and Kealii Mamala, traveled to the ‘wilds’ of Alaska to attempt an almost unimaginable feat. Their mission was to surf a wave unlike any that had been surfed before - a wave produced by a glacier. If they succeed, it will be an historic ‘first’ in surfing, opening new ideas to what is truly possible; failure could mean their death.
United States 2009 | 75M
Director: Ryan Casey, Brent Meeske
Featuring: Garrett McNamara, Kealii Mamala
23-Oct 6:30 PM Dole
24-Oct 12:00 PM Dole
MY HIFF: RIO BREAKS / HIGHWATER
HIGHWATER
Surf Cinema
Hawaii Premiere
HIGHWATER tells an inspiring story of competitors and non-competitors drawn to the spectacle of Oahu’s North Shore during the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing held each year in Hawaii. Director Dana Brown brings the audience into close contact with the power of the ocean and those who call it their playground. Brown gives the audience the humor as well as the humanity of the situation, skillfully bringing the surfers and their families vividly to the forefront of the story.
United States 2008 | 90M
Director: Dana Brown
Featuring: Monique Marrier, David Sanderson, Kelly Slater
25-Oct 8:30 PM Dole
MY HIFF: DRIFTER / RIO BREAKS
Festival Information
Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival 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. 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. Plus, DEPARTURES, a Japanese film, had its U.S. premiere at HIFF in 2008, won the HIFF Audience Award and then went on to win the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
HIFF’s major sponsors include: Regal Entertainment Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, Halekulani, Hawaii Tourism Authority and The VILCEK Foundation.
The 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival will be held October 15-25. Images of the films can be downloaded at
http://picasaweb.google.com/hiff2009images/2009FallFilmImages?authkey=Gv1sRgCOjSudrp5ob2iwE&feat=directlink. For more information please visit our website at www.hiff.org.
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