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Tom Berenger at the Big Island Film Festival « Your Future, Your Past Oceanic Time Warner (click on BIFF) Big Island Film Festival chooses 66 films LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Big Island Film Festival at Mauna Lani Resort, May 12-16, 2010 - Topix Big Island Chronicle » Big Island Film Festival Honolulu Advertiser article on Sunday, January 31, 2010 JOHN
CRUZ HEADLINES “BEST OF THE FEST” For immediate release ISLAND OF HAWAI’I—Music and movie magic go hand in hand in Hawaii, and the Big Island Film Festival is proud to announce that John Cruz and his heart-strumming slack key will take the stage for “Best of the Fest,” Sunday, May 16. A lifetime Hawaiian musician from Palolo Valley on Oahu, Cruz serenaded four galas during President Obama's inauguration. Acclaimed by Hawaii Magazine as 2008’s Best Singer Songwriter for his premiere CD, Cruz’s second album, “One of These Days” hit #1 in Hawaii, #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart for the Pacific Region and #6 on the Billboard World Chart and won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Contemporary Album of the Year. John is the official spokesman for Sprint Hawaii's Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation which donates free ukuleles to school music programs in need. He visits classrooms and gives surprise performances to inspire kids to achieve and believe in themselves. No stranger to the big screen, Cruz is the subject of the documentary film "Made of Music - The Story of John Cruz," which debuted at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu, and was honored with the Aloha Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Molokai Film Festival. Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Kelly Slater and Jake Shimabukuro add color and insight to an already powerful story. The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival takes place May 12-16, 2010 at Mauna Lani Resort, “on location” in two luxury hotels, retail shopping center and restaurants. Rated one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine, the 5th annual BIFF is a celebration of independent filmmaking with movies, special events, Hawaiian culture and music, all embraced by the spirit of Aloha, to help it grow into a premier event to share with the world. Mauna Lani Resort will offer accommodations at two ocean front luxury resorts, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, along with unparalleled shopping at The Shops at Mauna Lani. Click here
for submission rules and application or call 808-883-0394. MEDIA CONTACT:
Catherine Tarleton LINKS ENTRY
DEADLINE FEBRUARY 1, 2010 For immediate release ISLAND OF HAWAI’I—The final deadline to submit films to the Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival (BIFF) is February 1, 2010. Acclaimed as one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine, the 5th annual BIFF is a good venue for filmmakers to introduce their independent narrative short or feature length movies in several categories. BIFF takes place May 12-16, 2010 at Mauna Lani Resort, “on location” in two luxury hotels, retail shopping center and restaurants. More than 80 entries (including several made in Hawaii) from thirteen different countries have already been received. Narrative films (not documentaries) are accepted, both “shorts” (30 minutes or less) and feature-length (60 minutes or more), completed after January 1, 2009. Films shot in Hawaii or from filmmakers who live in Hawaii receive a 25% discount on entry fees (verification required). Complete details and instructions for submission via Withoutabox are available at www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com. BIFF is a movie-lover’s nirvana, with back-to-back screenings of short and feature-length films during the day, evening movies in two different locations, awards brunch, a screenwriting workshop with Ron Osborn (“Duckman,” “The West Wing,” “Moonlighting”), a pitch workshop, celebrity receptions for an actor and a filmmaker, and “Best of the Fest” concert with audience choice short and feature films. Mauna Lani Resort will offer accommodations at two ocean front luxury resorts, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows and The Fairmont Orchid along with unparalleled shopping at The Shops at Mauna Lani. The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking with movies, special events, Hawaiian culture and music, all embraced by the spirit of Aloha, to help it grow into a premier event to share with the world. Click here
for submission rules and application or call 808-883-0394. MEDIA CONTACT:
Catherine Tarleton LINKS
LIGHTS,
CAMERA, ACTION For immediate release
“We’re very pleased,” said BIFF Executive Director Leo Sears. “To have the opportunity to showcase ‘co-stars’ like The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, The Fairmont Orchid, and The Shops at Mauna Lani—it’s like having three leading ladies lined up for your new major motion picture.” BIFF is a movie-lover’s nirvana, with back-to-back screenings of short and feature-length films during the day, evening movies in two different locations, awards brunch, a screenwriting workshop with Ron Osborn (“Duckman,” “The West Wing,” “Moonlighting”), celebrity receptions for an actor and a filmmaker, and “Best of the Fest” concert with audience-choice short and feature films. Longtime Hawaii Island residents Leo and Jan Sears (Producer) began BIFF in 2006. “It all started during the Maui Film Festival in 2004,” said Sears. “We were sitting with Marilyn Killeri (then Big Island Film Commissioner) and asked her ‘why don’t we have something like this?’ and she said ‘because we need somebody to do it.’ So we did.” Sears himself a SAG actor, screenwriter, playwright and teacher, has watched the Festival expand every year, and hopes the new location will help continue the growth process. Mauna Lani Resort will offer accommodations at two ocean front luxury resorts, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows and The Fairmont Orchid along with unparalleled shopping at The Shops at Mauna Lani. For filmmakers world-wide, the final entry deadline is February 1, 2010. Narrative films (not documentaries) are accepted, both “shorts” (30 minutes or less) and feature-length (60 minutes or more), completed after January 1, 2009. Films shot in Hawaii or from filmmakers who live in Hawaii receive a 25% discount on entry fees (verification required). The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking with movies, special events, Hawaiian culture and music, all embraced by the spirit of Aloha, to help it grow into a premier event to share with the world. Click here
for submission rules and application or call 808-883-0394. MEDIA CONTACT:
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