A controversial film about the Burmese rebellion of 2007 has been added to HIFF's Spring Showcase where it will have its Hawaii premiere at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"Burma VJ" is a documentary from Danish director Anders Ostergaard and will screen at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas. The film runs 85 minutes and is in Burmese with English subtitles.

The documentary is compelling in nature. Armed with pocket-sized video cameras, a tenacious band of Burmese reporters face down death to expose the repressive regime controlling their country.

In 2007, after decades of self-imposed silence, Burma became headline news across the globe when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive rebellion. More than 100,000 people took to the streets protesting a cruel dictatorship that has held the country hostage for more than 40 years. Foreign news crews were banned, the Internet was shut down, and Burma was closed to the outside world.

The Democratic Voice of Burma — the Burma VJs — compiled handheld footage even as they themselves become the target of the Burmese government.

The spring showcase started this past Friday and ends Thursday.

For more information visit www.hiff.org.