About Us

Big Island Film Festival brings Filmmakers and Film Lovers together every May at The Mauna Lani Resort. We are hosted by The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i and The Shops at Mauna Lani, and supported by a growing list of participating sponsors. There is always something different to experience with exciting brand new films each year.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Photo by Catherine Tarleton

NEW in 2012: Start a New Memorial Weekend Tradition! Big Island Film Festival is shifting dates to Memorial Weekend starting in 2012. Thursday, May 24 through Monday, May 28, 2012 marks the seventh year of Big Island Film Festival on the beautiful Kohala coast of Hawai’i, the Big Island. This “Talk Story” film festival is a celebration for narrative filmmakers and their short and feature films. Venues that celebrate the beauty of our island and free parking for our guests enhance the experience. The Daytime Films are scheduled inside at the Amphitheatre at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i. The Ohana Films, with family themes rated through “PG”, and the Festival Films, for general films with ratings through “R”, are both set in outdoor locations to take advantage of the beautiful starry skies. Ohana Films will be one family feature and short film each night and will be available FREE to the public through the courtesy of The Shops at Mauna Lani. The Festival Films venue will be presenting double features and shorts at Plantation Estates (near the tennis courts) at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i. Social events are also located within The Fairmont Orchid. The Best of the Fest on Monday afternoon and evening is located at the Festival Films site.

Our focus remains on narrative filmmakers and only new narrative films will be eligible for Golden Honu Awards. We have opened a few time slots for movies with distribution in order to bring in established filmmakers and actors, whose insights can be valuable for the independent filmmakers in attendance.

Our growing number of patrons is a wonderful mixture of visitors and residents along with exciting sponsors who contribute to make Big Island Film Festival a success. Our selection by MovieMaker Magazine in 2007 & 2010 as one of “Twenty Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" has increased the quality and quantity of films from which to select the very best for our audience. The 2009 selection by MovieMaker Magazine as one of “25 Coolest Film Festivals” was a wonderful surprise – and we agree! Once again we’ve been honored by MovieMaker magazine in 2011 when selected as “Cool Fests 2011: Counting Down 20 Can't-Miss Festivals.”

The celebration of narrative filmmaking continues with a Hawai’i and international array of narrative features and shorts, Filmmaker Workshops, Meet the Stars, VIP Actor and Filmmaker Receptions & Salutes, the Awards Brunch and the Best of the Fest. Monday’s Best of the Fest is an opportunity to show the Audience Choice Feature and Short films one more time as well as celebrate the music of Hawaiian musicians and provide a charity fundraising event as well. Movies, special events, Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian music, wrapped in the Spirit of Aloha makes our Talk Story film festival something which we’re pleased to watch grow into a premiere event on our beautiful Hawai’i Island.

THREE MOVIE VENUES

The Daytime Films will be presented in two-hour blocks of narrative features and/or shorts from Friday through Sunday at the Amphitheater (downstairs) at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i. Self-parking tickets will be validated to allow free parking.

A Grand Opening Thursday, May 24th at The Shops at Mauna Lani stage will kick off the festival with special guest introductions and short films beginning at 7:30 p.m. Beach chairs are welcome. This Free event welcomes our guests to Hawai’i Island. Join Us!

The Ohana Films, a family feature and short film, will be presented on Friday through Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. Through the courtesy of The Shops at Mauna Lani, the Ohana Films are FREE to the public – bring your beach chairs!

The Festival Films venue offers two features and at least two shorts, which could be up to R ratings, outdoors on Friday through Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. at The Fairmont Orchid’s Plantation Estate – follow the path through the tennis courts. This site is lawn seating, so bring your beach chairs or blankets. Some chairs available.

At this same location, the “Best of the Fest” on Memorial Day begins with a concert in the late afternoon followed by the Audience Choice feature and short at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction to benefit The Wounded Warrior Project will be held on site. (Items may be donated to the silent auction by calling the Big Island Film Festival office at 808 883-0394 prior to May 15, 2012). A donation from each Best of the Fest ticket sold will also be contributed to Hawai’i Island Food Basket.

Active duty military personnel with ID
will be admitted to all films FREE of charge.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Photo by Kathleen Honey

Special opportunities to meet and greet our visiting filmmakers will take place before and after the showing of their films and at special events. Q & A as time permits.

Reservations are required for the following events: Meet the Stars, VIP Celebrity Receptions, & Awards Brunch. Tickets are required for these events. Reservations can be made online or by phone. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Schedule for award recognition: Celebrity Receptions for honorees will be held on Saturday & Sunday evenings at 4:30 p.m. Specific details will be announced as confirmed.

 

TICKETS

Daytime films: $7 per 2 hour block; $5 Kama’aina
Family films: Free - 2 hours
Festival films:: $15 per 4 hours double feature & shorts; $10 Kama’aina
New in 2012: Additional $10 upgrade to Ali’i Seating – if space available

Movie tickets are always available for purchase at the door. Note: Best of the Fest is $5 more at the door. Pre-purchase tickets online, by phone, at BIFF information desk at The Shops at Mauna Lani or at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i –Concierge desk in the lobby. Kama’aina prices are available for Daytime films, evening Festival Films & Best of the Fest. TicketDerby Phone orders may be emailed to you or will be on a pre-paid list at the door.

Pre-registration only: Thursday, Filmmaker Workshops: 2 workshops sold separately. Fee details will be posted by March 1, 2012 – see workshop pages

Online ticket sales and phone orders will be available starting April 1, 2012 to PRINT TICKETS AT HOME. There is a $1 convenience fee per ticket.

Tired of sorting tickets? PASSES AVAILABLE

Ali’i Pass: $400. Includes all films with upgraded Festival Films seating and special events PLUS pre-festival Mayor’s Welcome Reception for filmmakers, sponsors, & media. Filmmaker Workshops are excluded.

Talk Story Film Pass: $100. Includes all movies day & night and Best of the Fest Concert & Audience Choice films. ($129 value)

NEW Weekend Talk Story Film Pass: $60. Includes all movies Saturday afternoon through Monday’s Best of the Fest Concert & Audience Choice films. ($79 value)

Saturday Movie Pass: $25. Includes all movies on Saturday. ($36 value.)

Call BIFF office for information on passes. To arrange for Special ADA accommodations please call by May 17th. Contact Jan at 808 883-0394.

TRAVELING TO BIFF? See some special discounts below:

SPECIAL HOUSING RATES

Accommodations at The Fairmont Orchid-Hawai'i, Hawai’i will be available to BIFF patrons starting at $199 per night. Contact reservations at the hotel directly and ask for the Big Island Film Festival rate. Rates are in effect (space available) for 3 days prior to and following the film festival dates of May 24-19, 2012. Room & ticket packages are being designed. Kama’aina rates will also be available.

Direct reservation number is: Fairmont Orchid: 800-845-9905

AIRFARE DISCOUNTS

We continue to explore all possible discounts to assist our filmmakers and patrons with travel planning.

Alaska Airlines has joined our ohana of support with a 7% discount fare:

• Meeting Name: Big Island Film Festival
• Meeting Fare Code: ECMG541
• Departure City(s): Any US or Canadian AS/QX city.
• Meeting City: Kona, Hawaii
• Not Valid for; Mexico not included
• Beginning Travel Date: May 20, 2012
• Last Travel Date: May 31, 2012
• Blackout Dates: None

San Francisco Bay Area & Seattle, WA have direct flights into Kona (KOA).

Alaska Airlines Visa card? This credit card provides a $99 companion fare once a year + Triple miles per dollar on Alaska flights also helps gather miles for the next trip to BIFF

 

CAR RENTAL DISCOUNTS

Dollar Rent A Car is offering a special rate to Big Island Film Festival patrons. Dollar Rent A Car special corporate discount code (BR1796) for use by all participants who need to rent a car on the Big Island. This cd# will extend a 5% discount off our lowest discountable rates (all available car types) on www.dollar.com In addition, use of this code will waive the additional driver fee (retail $12.00/day + tax/fees) and also waive the young driver (21-24 years old) fee (retail $27.00/day + tax/fees).

To use this code: go to www.dollar.com, select the location and dates (this code can actually be used to rent a car at any Dollar Hawaii location, except Lanai), then populate the "Corporate" field with BR1796 and press "Get Rates" Reserve as early as possible for maximum savings.

©Copyright 2012 Big Island Film Festival
For more information contact us at Phone: 808-883-0394 Fax: 808-883-0254 Email Us at bigislandff@aol.com