Zac Efron – Shining Star Award (Wednesday, June 16, 8pm, Celestial Cinema) Depending on whether you’re a preteen girl or everybody else, your response to this one will likely be, “OMG! OMG! OMG!” or, “huh?” Not to disparage Efron; he’s clearly good at what he does–being a likable, inoffensive teen idol, lucrative Disney marketing tool and ubiquitous pop culture force. Even if you haven’t seen High School Musical, you’ve seen High School Musical. But for a festival that has, in the past, generally chosen its honorees based on acting or …

The first film ever copyrighted was a five-second clip called Fred Ott’s Sneeze. And that’s all it was: a grainy image of a guy (Fred Ott, an employee of inventor Thomas Edison) sneezing. That was 1894. Flash forward 116 years and movie magic has advanced to a point–IMAX, 3-D, high-def home theater systems–that would have left 19th century moviegoers in a state of apoplectic shock. Yet for all the technological advances, many Hollywood blockbusters haven’t progressed too far past Fred Ott’s Sneeze in the plot department.
Thankfully, there are filmmakers who …

This year’s Turkey Trot for Fun was another repeat success, as runners from around the island  and world challenged themselves to accurately guess their race times.  113 registered runners sprinted off the starting line early Thanksgiving morning, and over $1000 was raised to benefit Maui’s Food Bank.  In addition to entry fees, 254lbs of canned goods was collected for the Foodbank.  Race organizer Cathy Fitzpatrick (Valley Isle Road Runners) was overjoyed at response from race participants and funds raised for Maui’s Foodbank.
If your interested in getting more involved with Valley …

First Light Film Festival -
schedule (I) 11.24.09 – 12.27.09, schedule (II) 12.28.09 – 01.03.10
Please find this year’s potential Academy Award nominees below, as per the Maui Film Festival.
WHERE: Castle Theater, One Cameron Way, Kahului
WHEN:  See below listings (click film titles for more info) / MFF_FirstLight_flyer_09
Click here to see Maui Time’s calendar listings for these films & more
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

5:00pm — The Road (R/119 min.)  Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Kodi Smith-McPhee, Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce star in this stunning post-apocalyptic thriller.

7:30pm — Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire …

Maui Film Festival’s Surf Fest-
a benefit for the Save Honolua Coalition

Calling all Maui Surfers- Tuesday, Dec 1st 2009 is day not to be missed at the MACC’s Castle Theatre! The Maui Film Festival in-conjunction with the Save Honolua Coalition will be screening 3 surf films: “The Drifter“, “Dear & Yonder” and “Faces of the Bay”.   Ticket proceeds will go to help protect Honolua, Maui’s world class surfing & diving spot, and the films promise to be $10 well spent.  Furthermore, the drifter himself Mr. Rob Machado is expected to attend …