BUZZ BUILDING OVER 2009 HAWAII INTERNATIONAL

FILM FESTIVAL GALA SCREENINGS

HONOLULU, HI (September 29, 2009) –
The 29^th annual Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) will host
an array of acclaimed films in its Gala Screenings this year with some already
generating Oscar-buzz, and which include the works of awe-inspiring talents such
as the late Heath Ledger.  

HIFF is pleased to present the
Hawaii premiere and Gala Screening of THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR
PARNASSUS, starring the late Heath Ledger and directed by Terry
Gilliam.  Ledger captivates audiences as he gives his final performance in this
imaginative race against time.  HIFF will also host the Hawaii premiere of
PRECIOUS – BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE, directed by Lee
Daniels.  This film won the prestigious Audience
Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, has gained praise and
support by Oprah Winfrey, who signed on as executive producer, and has already
begun to create talk among the Academy Award community. 

Other Gala Screenings include the
Korean drama SCANDAL MAKERS directed by Hyeong-Cheol Kang; the
Japanese remake of the popular U.S. film SIDEWAYS, directed by
Cellin Gluck; the U.S. premiere of the thriller STORM from
German director Hans-Christian Schmid; and the Hawaii Premiere of THE
YOUNG VICTORIA, directed by Jean-Marc Vallee and starring
Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson and Jim
Broadbent.

Over 170 films from 36 different
countries will be featured at this year’s festival. HIFF’s 2009 program is being
held at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas from October 15–25. Tickets go
on sale Friday, October 1st for HIFF Ohana members and Monday, October 5th to
the public. General admission tickets are available for $10 or $9 for students,
seniors, children and military. Tickets may be purchased in person at HIFF’s box
office at 650 Iwilei Road #101 across from Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas
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 (All screening times subject to
change)

(MY
HIFF: Indicates Other Films Viewers Might Like)

THE
IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS

Gala
Presentation

Hawaii Premiere

Long ago, Dr. Parnassus made a deal
with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his
first-born reached its 16th birthday he or she would become the devil's
property. In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race
against time, Dr. Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending
landscape of surreal obstacles – and undo the mistakes of his past once and for
all.

France, Canada, United Kingdom 2009 | 122M

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Colin
Farrell, Jude Law

23-Oct  6:15 PM            Dole

MY HIFF:  FACE / MOTHER

PRECIOUS -
BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

Gala
Presentation

Hawaii Premiere

Claireece “Precious” Jones is a
sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want.
Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out.  Beneath her impassive
expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable
sense that other possibilities exist for her.  Presented by Tyler Perry and
Oprah Winfrey, PRECIOUS has garnered awards and praise since its debut, and is
already a strong contender for the upcoming award season.

United States 2009 | 109M

Director: Lee Daniels

Cast: Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, Mo'Nique,
Paula Patton, Mariah Carey

22-Oct  7:00 PM            Dole

MY HIFF:  MORE THAN A GAME / MAMMOTH

SCANDAL
MAKERS

KWASOK
SCANDLE

Gala
Presentation

Hawaii Premiere

Hyun-soo is a washed up radio host.
Jung-nam, a single mother, calls in about her desire to meet her biological
father. Capturing the nation’s hearts, the radio show’s ratings skyrocket. One
day, Jung-nam, and her young son show up at Hyun-soo’s door, claiming that he is
her father. He balks. But when Jung-nam threatens to go public, Hyun-soo is
forced to cohabitate with his new “family” or risk losing his new celebrity
status. A sleeper hit in Korea this year! This screening is sponsored by
Honolulu Cookie Company.

South Korea 2008 | Korean w/ English subtitles | 108M

Director:  Hyeong-Cheol Kang

Cast: Cha Tae-hyun, Ahn Il-Kwon, Hong
Kyeong-min, Hwang Seok-hyeon

18-Oct  6:45 PM            Dole

19-Oct  4:45 PM            Dole

MY HIFF:  CASTAWAY ON THE MOON / NORIBEN

SIDEWAYS

Gala
Presentation

World Premiere

In a last-ditch effort to sow their
wild oats, Michio (Fumiyo Kohinata) and Daisuke (Katsuhisa Namase) take off on a
final road trip to California's wine country the week prior to Daisuke 's
wedding. When the men encounter two fascinating women (Kyoka Suzuki and Rinko
Kikuchi), the duo is forced to re-examine their lives. SIDEWAYS is a delightful
Japanese adaptation of its American counterpart.  Plus, local boy, Jake
Shimabukuro, composed music for the soundtrack. This screening is sponsored by
Nippon Golden Network.

Japan 2009 | Japanese, English w/ English subtitles |
123M

Director: Cellin Gluck

Cast: Fumiyo Kohinata, Katsuhisa Namase,
Rinko Kikuchi

17-Oct  6:15 PM            Dole

24-Oct  12:45 PM          Dole

MY HIFF:  BEST OF TIMES / INGREDIENTS

STORM

Gala
Presentation

U.S. Premiere

Hannah Maynard, prosecutor at the
International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, is leading a trial against a
former commander of the Yugoslavian National Army who is accused of the
deportation and later killing of dozens of Bosnian-Muslim civilians. Hannah and
a key witness for the trial must both risk life and limb to make it to the
court, only to discover that there are traitors among their own ranks. This
screening is sponsored by Davis Levin Livingston.

Germany, Denmark, Netherlands 2009 | English, German
| 110M

Director: Hans-Christian Schmid

Cast: Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, Stephen
Dillane, Rolf Lassgard

19-Oct  6:00 PM            Dole

21-Oct  9:00 PM            Dole

MY HIFF:  JOHN RABE / AN ISLAND CALLING

THE YOUNG
VICTORIA

Gala
Presentation

Hawaii Premiere

Emily Blunt stars as the queen who
went on to symbolize the entire British Empire. The film follows Victoria's
early struggle to succeed her uncle as the ruler of England, a quest blocked by
her mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson). It is also a true romance;
from their very first meeting, we sense a mutual bond between Victoria and
Albert. THE YOUNG VICTORIA is a memorable, sophisticated and very charming
exploration of English history. This screening is sponsored by WATG.

United Kingdom 2009 | English, German w/ English
subtitles | 100M

Director: Jean-Marc Vallee

Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul
Bettany, Miranda Richardson

20-Oct  6:15 PM            Dole

MY HIFF:  PRECIOUS / WARRIOR AND THE WOLF

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.