MOVIE NIGHT + STARLIGHT + FREE = AWESOME

(Saturday) August 27, 7:15pm, Lahaina Gateway, 305 Keawe St., Lahaina; free

Last month, the first free movie night at Lahaina Gateway was such a huge success, they’re doing it again! This time they’re screening a rare, 1937 Hawaiian-style cartoon at 7:15pm, followed by a “magnificently produced… ocean-oriented docu-drama filmed throughout the globe” at 7:30pm. (Legal stuffs prevent us from printing film titles here, but you can find them at lahainagateway.com.) Mall-provided seating accommodates up to 100 peeps (first-come, first-served; no reserving seats), and beach chairs are welcome. Of course, no coolers or outside drinks are allowed, but why would you bother brown bagging it when myriad grinds abound? Speaking of grinds, if you attend arrive early and enjoy free chocolate fondue samples from The Melting Pot, plus other special deals. 808-877-7073; lahainagateway.com

HEY! WANNA READ WHAT WE WROTE ABOUT LAST MONTH’S MOVIE NIGHT? SCROLL DOWN…

WATERLUST

(Saturday) July 23, 7:15pm, Lahaina Gateway, 305 Keawe St., Lahaina; free

Last week, we gave you an early heads up about the SUP doco That First Glide, screening at the MACC this Friday (July 22, 7:30pm; $12). If that whet your rods and cones–and you’re looking toward the horizon for a second set–find it at Lahaina Gateway, this Saturday (July 23). The mall’s first-ever Outdoor Movie Night will be inaugurated with a trio of surf flicks, starting at 7:15pm with the PassmoreLabs project The Physics of Surfing (that, like That First Glide, buffs may recall from its debut at the Maui Film Festival), followed by The Path of the Modern Gypsy. The former 26-minute movie studies the science behind surfers’ innate collusion with the sea–in exhilarating high-definition–and the latter follows famed surfers (Rob Machado, Jay “Bottle” Thomson, Paul Fisher, Ben Bourgeois and more) through their enviable sun, sand et al lifestyle in Central America. And, the night’s capped off with a full-length, family-friendly animated movie. (Wanna know what it is? Find out at lahainagateway.com). Keep in mind that no coolers or outside food/drinks are allowed; but to conceive of bringing such things is nonsensical anyhow because you’re surrounded by the likes of Genki Sushi, The Melting Pot, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, Outback Steakhouse and Barnes & Noble Cafe–never mind the to-go grinds from Foodland Farms. Also, seats are limited to 100 peeps (first come, first serve) and while the Gateway’s got chairs, you can bring your own beach chairs if you’re afraid of ‘okole cooties (or whatever)–and so you don’t have to sit on the ground with your nose near toes. 808-877-7073; lahainagateway.com

This Week’s Picks: Jewaiian Style

Thursday (June 23), 7pm, ProArts Playhouse, Kihei; $25

***

During his Male Shining Star Award acceptance speech at the Maui Film Festival last Saturday, actor Andrew Garfield (Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, The Social Network) used the word “Jewaiian” when thanking Ben Goodman for his expert organizational work. It got a bit of a laugh, so I tweeted it. Boss bassist Shawn Michael (@shawnmichael808) replied—ever the insta-Wikipedia of Maui music—saying “Jewaiian” was also a “term of endearment (for) guitarist Avi Ronen, uttered by Willie K at Barry Fest 2009.” Well, that’s the headline’s back story so sensitive folk can’t berate me for it… But I digress. The point is, I’m here to tell you about “The Rabbi Meets the Kupuna,” the third annual dialogue exploring coincidental kinship between Kabbalah and Kahuna. (Makes sense. After all, The Torah says, “And the Almighty formed the man of dust from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the soul of life,” which, to me, seems reminiscent of bridge-bone-bonding Hawaiian honi.) Rabbi Yizchak Schwartz is traveling all the way from Jerusalem to join a panel alongside local ladies Auntie Maile Shaw and Auntie Pua Mahoe. The very idea of this program tickles my fancy unlike any other; but add to the event a dessert buffet and comfortable theater-in-the-round seating, and I’m in Heaven (or wherever). The program concludes with a Q&A session, and I’ll be the one asking how to go about making a menehune golem. 808-268-6112; sourceofhealing@gmail.com

>>> Another Earth – Narrative Feature

>>> Hamill – Independent Feature

>>> Page One – Free Speech

>>> The Last Mountain - Green Cinema

(Ooh, ooh! A three way tie for Best Doco)
>>> Building Hope – Best Documentary
>>> Connected – Best Documentary
>>> Love Shines – Best Documentary

>>> Life In A Day – Documentary World Cinema

>>> Sun City Picture House – Documentary Short

>>> Voice of Xingu – Documentary Short World Cinema

>>> Hello Caller – Narrative Short

>>> Family of the Wa'a – Spirit of Aloha

(Another tie!)
>>> Finding Joe – Spirit in Cinema
>>> I Am - Spirit in Cinema

>>> Miss Representation – Movies Matter

>>> Happy – Wake Up Call

>>> A Deeper Shade of Blue – Surf Cinema ]]> http://mauivents.com/maui-events/this-just-in-maui-film-festival-2011-audience-awards-announced-mauifilmfest-mff2011/feed/ 0 http://mauivents.com/maui-events/maui-theater-events/comprehensive-guide-to-2011-maui-film-festival-june-15-16-17-18-19-2011-wailea-maui-arts-and-cultural-center-macc/ http://mauivents.com/maui-events/maui-theater-events/comprehensive-guide-to-2011-maui-film-festival-june-15-16-17-18-19-2011-wailea-maui-arts-and-cultural-center-macc/#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:22:06 +0000 Anu Yagi http://mauivents.com/?p=7001

Your Comprehensive 2011 Guide to the Maui Film Festival: The movies, the food, the honorees and more…

***

“It really marches to the beat of the festival’s drum,” says Maui Film Festival founder Barry Rivers of this year’s cinematic crop, “meaning it’s about compassionate vision and life-affirming storytelling.” If that sounds high-minded, well, it is.

Like previous incarnations, the 2011 festival is chock-full of quirky, heartfelt indie flicks, message-heavy documentaries and boundary-pushing shorts. If you want turgid blockbusters and formulaic rom coms, there’s always the corporate multiplex down the street. If, on the other hand, you want to be challenged—and rewarded—here’s your chance.

“We had a great turnout last year, and we’re hopeful people will keep coming out to support what we’re doing,” says Rivers. “This is something unique and special for Maui, and something that we want to keep building.”

The 2011 Maui Film Festival runs June 15-19 in Wailea and Kahului. For tickets and more information, call 808-579-9244 or visit mauifilmfestival.com

***

THE FILMS

Celestial Cinema: Screenings under the stars at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course

Wednesday, June 15

A Deeper Shade of Blue (8pm)
Amazing surf footage combines with a probing examination of the sport’s evolution; directed by MFF honoree Jack McCoy. 90 min.

Na Nai’a: Legend of the Dolphins (10pm)
This is the closest you can come to swimming with dolphins without getting wet; MFF honoree Megan Fox is among the doc’s narrators. 80 min.

Thursday, June 16

Sun City Picture House (8pm)
Residents in earthquake-stricken Haiti build a movie house in this moving short, produced by MFF honoree Olivia Wilde. 27 min.

I Am (8:30pm)
After a near-death experience, director Tom Shadyac—who in a previous life directed lightweight comedies like Ace Ventura—goes on a quest to discover the meaning of, well, everything. 78 min.

Bali: Life Is An Offering (10pm)
Peek behind the veil of a sumptuous, fascinating island that’s far away from our own—but still has plenty to teach us. 90 min.

Friday, June 17

Submarine (8pm)
Preceded by Hello Caller
A sex-obsessed teen (though that might be redundant) is at the center of this whip-smart British comedy. 90 min.

The Future (10pm)
Preceded by The Lost Thing
The adoption of a cat sends a couple into a madcap downward spiral; so no kids, OK? 91 min.

Saturday, June 18

Beginners (8pm)
Preceded by Danny & Annie
After four decades in the closet, a man (Christopher Plummer) comes out, much to the consternation of his son (Ewan McGregor). 100 min.

Last Night (10pm)
Preceded by A Shore Thing
A young married couple (Keira Knightly and Sam Worthington) struggle with the bonds of monogamy. And if those two can’t stay attracted to each other, what hope is there for the rest of us? 99 min.

Sunday, June 19

(Kids 12 and under free)
Oxbow Walls of Perception (8pm)
Preceded by Blue Sway and The Sleepy Count
Haiku’s own Matt Meola is among the burgeoning watermen featured in this globe-trotting, wave-tackling thrill ride. 40 min.

Family of the Wa’a (9pm)
Preceded by Plastic Tide
An intrepid crew navigates the length of the Hawaiian islands (some 1,500 miles) in a wa’a, or traditional outrigger canoe and brings back some incredible footage. Our arms are sore just thinking about it. 89 min.

The Physics of Surfing (10:30pm)
The most exciting science lesson you’ll ever get. 26 min.

Castle Theater: Indoor screenings at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului

Wednesday, June 15

Page One: Inside The New York Times (5pm)
An insightful, at times suspenseful doc that gets behind the ink at America’s paper of record. 88 min.

The Vinter’s Luck (6:30pm)
A peasant dreams of making wine in Napoleon’s France; co-stars Keisha Castle-Hughes, still trying to top herself after an Oscar nomination at age 13. 127 min.

Another Earth (8:30pm)
What would we do if a planet exactly like our own suddenly appeared in the sky? Drill for oil is the cynic’s answer, but this thinking-person’s sci fi drama probes a bit deeper. 90 min.

Thursday, June 16

Building Hope (5pm)
A filmmaker sets out to build a school in the mountains of Kenya, and learns lessons both hard and uplifting. 70 min.

Miss Representation (6:30pm)
The struggles of women in the 21st century are examined through the eyes of various famous females, including Katie Couric, Condaleeza Rice, Rachel Maddow, Jane Fonda and many more. 90 min.

Hamill (8pm)
Based on the true story of deaf UFC champion Matt “The Hammer” Hamill. In English and American Sign Language, with subtitles. 108 min.

Friday, June 17

Love Shines (5pm)
Canada’s Ron Sexsmith might be the best singer-songwriter you’ve never heard of. Watch this and you’ll understand why. 87 min.

Happy (6:30pm)
Why don’t riches equal happiness? Is less really more? You may think you know the answers, but this doc packs some illuminating surprises. 77 min.

Connected (8pm)
Preceded by Missed Connections
Filmmaker Tiffany Shain (founder of the Webby Awards) explores the ties that bind us in the digital age. 82 min.

Saturday, June 18

Voice of the Xingu (3pm)
Preceded by The First Glide and Making Over Maui: The Keiki Kohola Project
Maui lifeguard Alfredo Villas Boas returns to his birthplace of Brazil to stand-up paddle down the Xingu River and defend indigenous people from encroaching development. 40 min.

The Last Mountain (5pm)
Coal companies are decimating mountains on the Mainland, and most people either don’t know about it or are powerless to stop them. See this film. Get angry. Get involved. 95 min.

The City Dark (6:30pm)
New York isn’t the only city that never sleeps; all over the world, urban sprawl has blotted out the brilliance of night. What’s the cost? This doc shines a light. 83 min.

Conception (8pm)
Preceded by Long Story Short
Nine (fictional) copulating couples explore the nature and complexities of sex; for adult audiences only. 90 min.

Burning Man: Voyage In Utopia (10pm)
Preceded by Matisyahu: Run & Return
From hard-core burners to curious outsiders, this exploration of the annual festival offers something for everyone. Fuzzy pants and glow-sticks optional. 83 min.

Sunday, June 19

Short Film Showcase (1pm)
Shorts ranging in length from 8-24 minutes, about everything from poodles to crossword puzzles to an opium cook-off in Afghanistan. 114 min.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (3pm)
Preceded by Tora
Masters of the roll meld art and cuisine; your popcorn will seem paltry by comparison. 81 min.

Crazy Wisdom (5pm)
The story of Tibetan guru Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who helped transport Buddhism to the West. 89 min.

Finding Joe (6:30pm)
The ideas of the late Joseph Campbell—the hero’s journey, the power of mythology—are explored by everyone from Deepak Chopra to Mick Fleetwood to Laird Hamilton. 83 min.

Life In A Day (8pm)
Sweeping and epic even as it’s messy and small, this doc—produced by Ridley Scott—lives up to its name. 90 min.

THE SPECIAL EVENTS

Opening Night Twilight Reception
Wednesday, June 15, 5:30pm at Capische?, Hotel Wailea
Enjoy grinds from a gourmet seafood bar and grill station and indulge in tropical fruit dipped in a caramel fountain while you rub elbows with fellow film buffs and talk story about the celluloid treats to come. $125

Starry Night MoonDance
Wednesday, June 15, 10pm at Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar
Keep opening night going—the menu includes everything from Ahi tacos to Maui Cattle Co. beef sliders to pineapple creme brulee, capped off, of course, by ample libations and dancing into the wee hours. $70

Taste of Chocolate
Friday, June 17, 10pm, Four Seasons Resort
Six stations of decadent, gooey goodness: milk, dark, white, cake mousse, custard…your sweet tooth won’t know what hit it. $125

Filmmaker Panels
Saturday, June 18, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
First, at 11am, directors Jack McCoy, Turk Pipkin and Laurent Le Gall and producers David Cumming, Christy Pipkin and Sandrine Di Rienzo will talk about journeys and destinations, specifically as they relate to documentary filmmaking. Next, at 12:15pm, producer/directors Tiffany Shlain, Fitria Putri, Jonathon Kay and Patrick Solomon will tackle nothing less than the future of civilization. Finally, at 1:30pm, the Maui-based filmmakers featured in this year’s festival—Alfredo Villas-Boas, Jace Panebianco, Mike Waltze, Skye Kelly and Eric Gilliom—will expound on their experiences. $10 per panel

Taste of Wailea
Saturday, June 18, 4:30pm, David Leadbetter Golf Academy
The food selection is too expansive to list here, so we’ll just give you the participating restaurants and let your imagination (and taste buds) run wild: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Mala Ocean Tavern, Monkeypod Kitchen, Matteo’s, Gannon’s & Joe’s, Bistro Molokini, Four Seasons, Pita Paradise, Mulligan’s on the Blue, Capische?, Spago and Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani. Hungry? $120

Cosmic Closing Night Poolside Party
Sunday, June 19, 10pm, Hotel Wailea
Send this year’s fest out in style with a swanky waterside soiree featuring food, entertainment and sippables. The thing we’re most excited about? Liquid nitrogen gelato. $60

THE HONOREES

All awards will be presented at Celestial Cinema

Jack McCoy, director/cinematographer
Award: Beacon Award (Wednesday, June 15, 7:30pm)
Essential credits: In Search of Tubular Swells (1976), Storm Riders (1982), Blue Horizon (2004)
Signature film: A Deeper Shade of Blue (2011)

Megan Fox, actress
Award: Iris Award (Wednesday, June 15, 8pm)
Essential credits: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004), Jennifer’s Body (2009), Jonah Hex (2010)
Signature role: Mikaela Banes, Transformers (2007)
Upcoming films: Friends With Kids, This is Forty

Olivia Wilde, actress
Award: Female Shining Star Award (Thursday, June 16, 8pm)
Essential credits: Conversations With Other Women (2005), Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas (2006), Fix (2008),
Signature role: Quorra in TRON: Legacy (2011)
Upcoming films: Cowboys & Aliens, The Change Up, Butter

Garrett Hedlund, actor
Award: Rising Star Award (Friday, June 17, 8pm)
Essential credits: Troy (2004), Friday Night Lights (2004), Eragon (2006)
Signature role: Sam Flynn, TRON: Legacy (2011)
Upcoming films: On the Road

Andrew Garfield, actor
Award: Male Shining Star Award
(Saturday, June 18, 8pm)
Essential credits: Boy A (2007), The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), Never Let Me Go (2010)
Signature role: Eduardo Saverin, The Social Network (2010)
Upcoming films: The Amazing Spider-Man

SIX NEW FILM PREMIERS ANNOUNCED @MAUIFILMFEST (JUNE 15-19)

***

The Maui Film Festival has revealed six new films to be premiered June 15-19 at Wailea and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (@MauiArtsCulture). See below for posters and links to theatrical trailers; or for a complete list of films and events, CLICK HERE to visit the festival’s Web site. (P.S. CLICK HERE to read MauiTime‘s comprehensive coverage of the 2010 Maui Film Festival.)

Also, on Wednesday, June 15 (8pm), opening night at the Celestial Cinema features the US premier of surf guru Jack McCoy’s A Deeper Shade of Blue (CLICK HERE to watch the trailer). Admission for keiki 12-years-old or younger is free, and the event will be followed by a special surprise soon to be announced. Plus, stay tuned for next week’s announcement of the 2011 festival honorees, and get in line for single film tickets, available for purchase on Friday, May 27.

HAPPY - Watch the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcMQmuvzPmI

THE VINTER’S LUCK - Watch the trailer at: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thevintnersluck/

LIFE IN A DAY - Watch the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePfNcj-SaZM

CRAZY WISDOM - Watch the trailer at: http://www.crazywisdomthemovie.com/trailer

THE LAST MOUNTAIN - Watch the trailer at: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thelastmountain/

CONNECTED - Watch the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeMG8FZpTcw

Photo by Toby Forage

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 directing ability rather than star wattage, this is a bit of a head-scratcher. Then again, here we are talking about it, so maybe that’s the point. Perhaps we should just embrace our inner 12-year-old and roll with the OMG.

EDIT: After posting this, I posed the question via Twitter: Was I too harsh on Efron, or not harsh enough? @sleepforfun thought I was “Wayyy too harsh” and “could’ve at least mentioned the films he did BESIDES high school musical.” Fair enough. Here they are, per IMDB, in chronological order (leaving off some early bit parts): High School Musical 2, Hairspray, Me and Orson Welles, High School Musical 3: Senior Year and 17 Again. Not sure if that bolsters his case as a serious actor–Me and Orson Welles was well-reviewed but not always because of Efron; as the critic for the Philadelphia Weekly put it, “the only problem is the me [Efron].” But it certainly draws a more complete picture of his career arc thus far.

Photo courtesy of Maui Film Festival

Taylor Steele – Beacon Award (Thursday, June 17, 8pm, Celestial Cinema) Steele is at the festival because he directed Castles in the Sky, but this honor goes much deeper than that. For nearly two decades, Steele has been riding the lip of the surf doc world, churning out award-winning–and genre-stretching–films that embrace the dreamy essence of the sport and celebrate the hardworking slackers who populate it. And he’s maintained his indie cred, with his own production company (Poor Specimen) and a commitment to showcasing undiscovered or up-and-coming talent, both on the waves and on his soundtracks (he’s credited with featuring the music of Jack Johnson before it was blaring out of every tiki hut and ABC Store). A recent review of Castles in the Sky in Surfer magazine summed up the appeal of Steele’s films: “The lack of inscribed clutter frees the viewer to focus on the beauty of the landscapes, people, and surfing…people who know nothing of the industry, and don’t care what the surfers’ names are, can still appreciate the film for is visual elegance.”

Image courtesy of Maui Film Festival

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 embrace script, character and nuanced narrative, making movies that entertain, enthrall and even enlighten. Each year, the Maui Film Festival brings a collection of these cinematic gems to our isolated isle, giving local film buffs a chance to revel in the eclectic wonders of this incredible storytelling medium, while also partaking in food, entertainment and a night under the South Maui stars. This year’s MFF slate is perhaps the most diverse in the festival’s history, a mix of genres that truly offers something for everyone–sneeze enthusiasts possibly excepted.

For tickets and more info, go here or call 808-579-9244; also be sure to grab the June 10 issue of MauiTime for more info on the films, the honorees, the food and more.

THE FILMS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16

Waste Land (6pm, Castle Theater) The world’s largest garbage heap–in Rio De Janeiro–is the staging ground for this award-winning doc. Thankfully not presented in smell-o-vision. Plays with Poi Dogs, an acclaimed 12-minute short from Maui-bred filmmaker Joel Moffett. NR, 90 min.

Cancer to Capricorn: The Path of the Modern Gypsy (8pm, Castle Theater) World-class surfers traverse the titular Tropics in search of epic waves. Thankfully has nothing to do with astrology. Plays with Green, a sparsely edited, dialogue-free 48-minute doc about the beautiful, threatened forests of Borneo. NR, 44 min.

Bran Nue Dae (8pm, Celestial Cinema) An Australian musical comedy inspired by both Hollywood and Aboriginal culture. Shrimps, barbies and Paul Hogan not included. PG, 88 min.

Home (10pm, Celestial Cinema) If a balmy Maui evening isn’t enough to make you appreciate nature, try this: an hour-and-a-half of stunning aerial footage, culled from three years of shooting in 54 countries. A message about our imperiled planet is mixed in, but the eye candy makes it go down easier. NR, 78 min.

THURSDAY, JUNE 17

Tapped (5pm, Castle theater) Are you drinking bottled water? Stop! So says this doc, which explores how Americans have been sold on the idea that their tap water is full of poison, and how big corporate plastic bottle makers might actually be ensuring this is true by pumping toxins into the ground. Still thirsty? NR, 76 min.

Ho’okele Wa’a (7pm Castle Theater) A Maui-made doc about some local enviro movers and shakers and the good, essential work they’re doing. Stars Charlie Jencks and Everett Dowling. Just kidding. Plays with Green. NR, 57 min.

Castles in the Sky (8pm, Celestial Cinema) Funny/thrilling surf doc follows a crew of characters from Africa to Vietnam to India to…Iceland? Plays with Birthright, a moving 6-minute short about a paralyzed man rekindling his relationship with the ocean. NR, 124 min.

Sex Magic: Manifesting Maya (9pm, Castle Theater) Leave the keiki at home for this exploration of tantric sex and all its in- and out-of-the bedroom complications. NR, 80 min.

Rock Steady: The Roots of Reggae (10pm, Celestial Cinema) Old footage and new are melded in this doc/concert film that traces the genesis of Jamaica’s most successful (musical) export. Plays with Birthright. NR, 98 min.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18

Blood Into Wine (4pm, Castle Theater) You may know Maynard James Keenan–the subject of this singular character doc–as the prog rocker who’s played with Tool and A Perfect Circle. What you may not know is that he’s also a winemaker, growing grapes in the harsh-yet-fertile deserts of Arizona. And he doesn’t even drink. Seriously. NR, 100 min.

Queen of the Sun (6pm, Castle Theater) Like so many things, we never appreciated bees until they started disappearing. This doc, which explores the pollen-spreading insects and their plight, has been generating a lot of buzz. Sorry. NR, 83 min.

Hana Surf Girls (8pm, Castle Theater) Bucolic East Maui takes center stage in this self-explanatory yet wholly revealing doc starring Monyca Byrne Wickey and Lipoa Kahaleuahi. NR, 83 min.

Nowhere Boy (8pm, Celestial Cinema) Biopic about the misspent youth of a Liverpool lad named John Lennon who grew up to form some band. Plays with The Happiest Man Alive, a 14-minute short about a dude who stabs himself in the chest before work. And you thought your job was lousy. R, 98 min.

Norman (10pm, Celestial Cinema) A high school kid fights angst and loneliness, unaware, apparently, that he’s in the company of every other high school kid ever. Plays with The Happiest Man Alive. NR, 120 min.

The Freebie (11:45pm, Celestial Cinema) A seemingly happy marriage runs off the rails in this searingly honest, partially improvised drama. A date film only for very secure couples. R, 80 min.

SATURDAY, JUNE 19

The Tillman Story (4pm, Castle Theater) When Pat Tillman left a lucrative NFL career to go fight in Afghanistan, it seemed like a recruiting poster come to life. Then came his death from “friendly fire” and the ensuing cover-up. Now comes this documentary, which goes in search of answers. NR, 94 min.

The Concert (6pm, Castle Theater) European export about an orchestral reunion that packs more intrigue than you’d imagine. Plays with the sensually stunning French short Malban. NR, 119 min.

Sympathy Delicious (8pm, Castle Theater) An understandably bitter, paraplegic LA DJ reaches for salvation. Whellchair-bound Christopher Thornton wrote the script and stars; co-stars include Mark Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom and Juliette Lewis. Plays with Urs, a 10-minute animated short from Germany.  NR, 100 min.

Happy Thank You More Please (8pm, Celestial Cinema) A New York lothario has his life turned upside down in this quick-witted comedy. Like a Woody Allen flick, except the “lothario” bit. Plays with God of Love, an 18-minute short about a dart-throwing lounge singer. NR, 100 min.

Cherry (10pm, Celestial Cinema) A virginal teen simultaneously embarks on his college and sexual educations. So yeah, it’s that kind of cherry. Plays with God of Love. NR, 99 min.

SUNDAY, JUNE 20

442 (1:30pm, Castle Theater) The mostly untold story of the Japanese-American unit that withstood heavy casualties and exhibited remarkable bravery in WWII, even as their families were placed in internment camps back home. (The 442nd, and specifically Sen. Dan Inouye, were the subject of a recent MauiTime feature.) In English and Japanese with English subtitles. NR, 97 min.

This Way of Life (4pm, Castle Theater) Doc contrasts the stunning beauty of New Zealand with the harsh lives of its subjects, who make Frodo look like a pansy. Plays with the surreal animated short Sam’s Hot Dogs. NR, 84 min.

Cyrus (8pm, Castle Theater) Your classic tale of boy (John C. Reilly) meets girl (Marisa Tomei) and girl’s strange adult son (Jonah Hill). Weirdest love triangle ever. R, 97 min.

Boy (8pm, Celestial Cinema) A Maori youth chooses two questionable role models–Michael Jackson and his absent father–in this quirky-but-heartfelt New Zealand export. NR, 87 min.

Last Paradise (10pm, Celestial Cinema) Another New Zealand flick, this one composed of four decades of footage featuring extreme sport pioneers doing their thing in extremely unspoiled surroundings. Plays with Stones, a 20-minute short from Hawaii filmmaker Ty Sanga.

8am (8.6mile race) Start

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 Isle Road Runners, be advised that VIRR’s executive board elections will take place on 12/12/2009 after the annual “Christmas 5k & 10K Race”

Click here for the Turkey Trot photo gallery

Out of town runners- Marti Law of Hong Kong (left); Sarah Law of New York (right)

Proceeds from this year’s silent auction which featured a myriad of generous donations from local businesses will also be

1st Place – David Scibor

2nd Place – Bob Lash

3rd Place – Graeme Roche

1st Place David Scibor (left); 2nd Place Bob Lash (right)

3rd Place- Graeme Roche

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 (R/110 min.) Oprah presents this Sundance and Toronto Audience Award winner. Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey star.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! NO FILMS TOMORROW.

2:00pm — The Messenger (R/105 min.) A timeless story of redemption, hope and resilience starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton and Jena Malone.

5:00pm — Trucker (R/93 min.) Michelle Monaghan plays a vivacious, independent trucker and single mom searching for genuine connection in lieu of one night stands.

7:30pm — Everybody’s Fine (PG-13/100 min.)

Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell star in this beautiful, heartfelt, holiday season family dramedy

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 AFTER TODAY’S FILMS, FIRSTLIGHT FILMS RESUME ON WED. 12/16.

2:00pm — Julie & Julia (PG-13/123 min.) Meryl Streep turns in a gleeful performance as the beloved chef Julia Child. Co-starring Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina.

5:00pm — The Lovely Bones (PG-13/139 min.) Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci star in this unforgettable drama. Peter Jackson directs.

7:30pm — Up in the Air (R/109 min.) Director/writer Jason Reitman’s brilliantlly insightful dramedy. George Clooney, Vera Farminga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman star.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

5:00pm — A Serious Man (R/105 min.) Academy Award® winning directors Joel and Ethen Cohen darkly comedic\ exploration of Judiasm insights to Life’s Big Questions.

8:00pm — The Young Victoria (PG/100 min.) A lavishly-recreated, sensually inspired, drama detailing Queen Victoria’s ascent to the throne starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 NO FILMS TOMORROW, SAT. 12/19.

5:00pm — That Evening Sun (PG-13/110 min.)  Hal Holbrook plays a life-long Tennessee farmer who sneaks away from his nursng home and sets out to reclaim his life on his own terms.

7:30pm — The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (PG-13/102 min.) Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Evans, Will Patton, Ann-Margaret and Ellen Burstyn bring Tennessee Williams’ long-lost screenplay to life.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 NO FILMS TOMORROW. MON. 12/21.

2:00pm — Brothers (R/110 min.)  The always brilliant Jim Sheridan directs Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in this volcanic, dynamic, family drama.

5:00pm — Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love (PG/102 min) A music-infused cinematic journey about the power of one man’s voice, African superstar Youssou N’dour, to inspire positive change.

7:30pm — Nine (PG-13/110 min.)  Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren star. Rob Marshall directs.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

5:00pm — Amreeka (PG-13/96 min.) Finds the warmth, humor and humanity in a Palestinian refugee, and her family’s, bittersweet search for a place to call home in America.

7:30pm — Oh My God (NR/96 min.) A stunning, insightful, exploration of the provocative question “What is God?” that reveals global culture’s core beliefs.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 HAPPY HOLIDAYS! NO FILMS ON 12/24 OR 12/25.

2:00pm — Good Hair (PG-13/96 min.) Comedian Chris Rock explores the wonders of African-American hairstyles in this insightful and always funny documentary.

5:00pm — The Hurt Locker (R/131 min.)  Filmmaker Katherine Bigelow’s viscerally exciting, adrenaline-soaked Iraq bomb squad’s tour de force of suspense, danger and surprise.

7:30pm — Sherlock Holmes (NR/133 min.)  Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams star in this dynamic, new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous characters.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26

12:00pm — Coraline (PG/96 min.)  Director Henry Selick’s spectacular stop-motion animated adventure voiced by Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman.

2:00pm — Amelia (PG/111 min.) The Castle Theater’s Big Screen was made for this stunning Amelia Airhart biopic starring Hilary Swank, Ewan McGregor and Richard Gere.

5:00pm — Pirate Radio (R/135 min.) The exhilarating sense of freedom that was 60′s music’s most enduring cultural contribution breaks thru England’s ban on rock ‘n roll.

7:30pm — New York, I Love You (R/103 min.)  A kaleidoscopic view of Love in NYC starring Shia LaBeouf, Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Orlando Bloom, Julie Christie.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27

2:00pm — Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire (R/110 min.) Oprah presents this Sundance and Toronto Audience Award winner. Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey star.

5:00pm — A Single Man (R/99 min.) Director Tom Ford’s luminous tale of lost love stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Mathew Goode and Ginnifer Goodwin co-star.

7:30pm — Me and Orson Welles (PG-13/114 min.) The legendary Mercury Theater comes alive in 1930′s NYC. Christian McKay, Zac Efron, Claire Danes star. Richard Linklater directs.

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 the events on Dec 1st.

Surf Film Festival youtube promo

Click here to purchase tickets for this event from the MACC (you can purchase tickets at the box office, please see address below; or boxoffice@mauiarts.org)

Trailers:

The Drifter:  Soul Surfer and Pipe Master Rob Machado flies to Indonesia to experience a different kind of surf trip. A journey that would take him way beyond his comfort zone to an unnamed Indonesian Ocean reef. What did he discover? You never stop dreaming. Special Live Appearance by Living Suring Legend Rob Machado. “The Drifter” was filmed using a red package camera which enables film makers to produce a traditional film quality movie without the high-costs associated with processing chemical film- based on the trailer (scroll down for the link) it should be an hour of stunning images. Also backed by Warner Brothers Records “The Drifter” should be upping the benchmark for surf films.

Dear & Yonder: Daring Stories of Ladies United by the Seas with special appearance by Breakout Filmmaker Award-winner Tiffany Campbell. The dynamic skills and personalities of this diverse cast of lady surfers shine as the film follows them from around the world to just around the corner. These women show how far women’s surfing has come but in order to find out from where, the film journeys back in time to uncover the history of women’s surfing with its famous icons and legends. Click to read a Surfline article about the film

FACES OF THE BAY. 25 minutes of 40+ years of mind-blowing Honolua. Screens at 7:30PM only.  Just an important reminder of why we need to support Honolua Bay.

There will also be  Live Music, from 6:15-7:15pm, in the CandleLight Cafe by SOUNDWAVE Maui’s Premier Instrumental Surf Rock Band.

WHAT: Maui Film Festival’s Surf Fest

WHERE: Castle Theater at the MACC; 1 Cameron Way, Kahului, HI 96732

WHEN: Tuesday, December 1st 2009; 5:00 / 7:30 Pm

COST: $10

MAUI TIME WEB EDITOR- John Law