Categorized | Entertainment

Big Island Film Festival seeking entries

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiian music, moonlight and movies make Mauna Lani Resort a must for filmmakers, fans and friends in May, when the Big Island Film Festival returns for its sixth year.

One of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” and “25 Coolest Film Festivals.” BIFF 2011 is now accepting entries for the May 11-15 event, on location at two luxury hotel properties and premier resort shopping center.

A celebration of independent narrative filmmaking, BIFF 2011 includes screenings, social events and networking opportunities, celebrity receptions, screenwriting workshop and a closing night “Best of the Fest” with a top Hawaiian music concert and movies chosen from Festival entries.

Last year’s celebrity honorees included screenwriter Ron Osborn (“Moonlighting”), filmmaker Scott Stewart (“Legion”) and actors Tom Berenger (“Platoon”) and Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa (“Mortal Kombat”).

Narrative short films (30 minutes or less) and feature length (60 minutes or more) completed after Jan. 1, 2010 will be considered.

Deadlines are:
* “Early Bird” Nov. 1, 2010. Early Bird Entry Fees: $50 Feature, $40 Short, $30 Student
* Regular Jan. 1, 2011. Regular Entry Fees: $60 Feature, $50 Short, $35 Student
* Late/Final Feb. 1, 2011. Late Entry Fees: $70 Feature, $60 Short, $40 Student

All films shot in Hawaii or created by filmmakers who live in Hawaii receive a 25 percent discount on entry fees (verification required).

BIFF 2011’s “Golden Honu” will be awarded to the Best Feature and Best Short in Overall, Family, Student, Animated, Foreign and Hawaii categories at a special Awards Brunch to honor the filmmakers and their works Sunday, May 15.

Numerous alumni films have won awards at prestigious film festivals around the world, and achieved commercial success in the industry.

“Lunatics, Lovers, and Poets” (BIFF 2009) was distributed in 10 states through Carmike Cinemas, and by North American Home Entertainment DVD contract with Seminal Films.

“Remarkable Power” starring Kevin Nealon (2009 BIFF Best Feature) was released through most cable outlets as a PPV title before DVD release.

“Two Tickets to Paradise” (BIFF 2008), and “Rain in the Mountains” and “Sixes and the One-Eyed King” (BIFF 2007) have been released on DVD.

“As we approach our sixth Big Island Film Festival, judging by the quality of films submitted in the past, we are absolutely ready to see the next ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ or the next ‘Honokaa Boy,’” said Executive Director Leo Sears. “Fans are more sophisticated and open to independent films than ever, especially those brilliant, different gems that surprise us. And when you bring your film to BIFF in Hawaii, you can’t have a more receptive, more spectacular and beautiful place to introduce it than the Mauna Lani Resort.”

The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a celebration of narrative filmmaking, with free family films under the stars at The Shops at Mauna Lani, international features and shorts screened at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii and Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, stellar social events, celebrity receptions, awards and much more in an outstanding island setting.

For submission rules and application, visit www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com

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