HIFF brings fest to beach
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival is partnering with the city's popular Sunset on the Beach film series to provide an unprecedented four-night weekend of films Oct. 20 to 23 at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki.
"We want to build a bigger presence in Waikiki," said HIFF executive director Chuck Boller. "It's a place where tourists and locals mix. And the visitors from Los Angeles adore the beach screenings, so next year, we'll expand even more."
Anderson Le, programmer for HIFF, has devised four theme nights for the beach screenings, which take place during HIFF's 26th annual fall festival, Oct. 19 to 29 at several venues. Most screenings are scheduled at Regal Dole Cannery theaters.
The Sunset on the Beach screenings, beginning at dusk, will feature:
Sunset on the Beach screenings are free, with food vendors adding an element of Island-style partying on the lawn and beachfront.
The expanded HIFF involvement, with support from the Waikiki Improvement Association, comes at a time of vigorous growth for the annual film fest. HIFF was recently designated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as one of 20 accredited film festivals worldwide, signaling a platform for potential global recognition, Boller said.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
