The Honolulu International Film Festival won't be flying under the radar much longer, as it prepares to host its third annual presentation of independent films next month.

The festival's collection of 35 feature films, documentaries, animation and shorts include stories about death, rehab, a prison rodeo, the late Patsy Mink and a musical about Condoleezza Rice.

The documentary "An Unlikely Weapon," narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, considers war photographer Eddie Adams, and the complicated repercussions of his 1968 photograph capturing a Saigon police chief, Gen. Nygoc Loan, shooting a Vietcong guerrilla point blank.

Yet the film festival is not well-known in the Islands. Local film commissioners know little about the festival, despite two previous events in Waikiki. Its Las Vegas organizers said they really haven't done much in the way of public relations until this year.

However, its title — and specifically its use of the acronym HIFF — has upset the state's more senior HIFF: the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Chuck Boller, executive director of the Hawaii International Film Festival, said his organization has lost money because filmmakers have mistakenly submitted their work to the Honolulu festival. HIFF is held each October.

"We have asked them to cease and desist but they don't return my phone calls," Boller said. "They are confusing everybody."

Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival earns thousands of dollars each year from its $50 submission fee — $27,000 last year, Boller said.

But Boller, executive director of HIFF for the past nine years, is more concerned about his festival's standing in the filmmaking community. It's viewed as the top film festival in the Islands and recognized by filmmakers and fans from around the world.

"To have that reputation risked by something like this is very serious for us," he said. "We fought long and hard to build that reputation."

Jenner Costello, festival director of the Honolulu International Film Festival, said the confusion is unintentional.

"We can't go and change the name of the city," said Costello, who spent some of his youth in Hilo but now handles marketing at The Palazzo in Vegas. "I feel badly that they are offended by the name or they feel it infringes on their name, but I don't know what else can be done about that."

On its Web site, the festival uses "About HIFF" as a link. But Costello said the organization avoids using the acronym in most cases, said Costello.

"There are only a certain amount of acronyms available," Costello said.

Costello said he has spoken and corresponded by e-mail with someone from the Hawaii International Film Festival, but he couldn't name his contacts.

"It's unfortunate that they feel that way, but it's just an acronym," Costello said. "We certainly don't intend to add any confusion between the two entities."