HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETURNS FROM IRAN AND BERLIN FILM FESTIVALS WITH NEW FILMS

Chuck Boller, Executive Director of HIFF, secures new films from Iran and Berlin film festivals

Chuck Boller, Executive Director for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival just returned from two major film festivals, Fajr International Film Festival held in Iran and the Berlin International Film Festival held in Germany.
“Our focus at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival is to promote cultural understanding through the medium of film,” said Chuck Boller. “Every year, we select a couple of major film international festivals where we can meet rising filmmakers and secure promising films. When I first started at HIFF fifteen years ago there were 50 film festivals now there are over 5,000 film festivals. The competition for the best films is fierce, so it’s vital to travel to secure the top films that Hawaii audiences are accustomed to seeing at HIFF.”
“HIFF is well known as the first festival to screen Asian and Pacific Rim films and we have built strong relationships with the various film companies. We would like to strengthen our European and Arab film sections,” said Chuck Boller. “This year, we chose Fajr International Film Festival held in Iran and the Berlin International Film Festival held in Germany. These two film festivals represent the best films in Europe and the Middle East. We made some great film contacts, gained insights into how other film festivals operate and secured some exciting films for this year’s fall festival.”
The Fajr International Film Festival, which began on Feb. 1, is Iran's version of Cannes and the Oscars. For 11 days, the country's biggest directors and stars converge on Tehran, where they join filmgoers, journalists and foreign guests in a celebration that spotlights Iran's contradictions as much as its cinematic achievements.
The 54th Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 5 to 15, 2004. There were 15,545 accredited guests from all over the world. Altogether 368,400 tickets were sold, and there were 1,384 film screenings in 10 festival cinemas.
“These trips are harder work than any time of year except the fall film festival,” said Chuck Boller. “A typical day starts at 5 a.m. and doesn’t end till 1 or 2 a.m in the morning. Plus since we’re a non-profit and always on a budget, we pay for these business trips out of our own pockets.”
7th Annual Hawaii International SPRING Film Festival will be held April 2-8, 2004 at the Signature Dole Cannery Theatres. Some of the films being shown this year include: DOGVILLE [USA/Denmark] by Lars von Trier starring Nicole Kidman, BRIGHT FUTURE (Japan) by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, PURPLE BUTTERFLY (China/France) by Lou Ye, UNDEAD (Australia) by Michael and Peter Spierig, a special encore of the 2003 HIFF Best Feature Film - TWILIGHT SAMURAI (Japan) by Yoji Yamada and THE LAND HAS EYES (Hawaii) by Vilsoni Hereniko shown at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
Established in 1981, Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to advancing understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific, and North America through the medium of film. HIFF is considered one of the world’s premiere film events ideally positioned two months before The Academy Awards®. The festival has premiered such movies as Crouching Tiger - Hidden Dragon, Once Were Warriors, The Piano, Shine, Shall We Dance and Y Tu Mama Tambien. For more information, call 528-HIFF [4433] or visit online at www.hiff.org.