MEDIA RELEASE

The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival (BIFF) hosted annually in May has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals,” in its summer issue on newsstands now.  The only Hawaii film festival to make the list, BIFF is honored alongside notable events as Roger Ebert’s Film Festival in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, nationwide United Film Festivals and the 62-year-old Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. 

Founder Leo Sears said, “What could be cooler than watching your film in Hawaii under the stars with palm tress swaying in the gentle breeze and the fragrance of plumeria wafting around you?”  Numerous nominating filmmakers mentioned the Big Island setting as key, however BIFF continues to grow into a reputable event in the film community, this year welcoming celebrated actors and filmmakers like John Saxon and Ron Osborn.  

In 2007, BIFF was selected as one of the magazine’s “Twenty Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” 

The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a four-day celebration of independent narrative filmmaking. 

This year’s sponsors included Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii County Product Enrichment Program, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Queens’ MarketPlace, Kenwood Vineyards, Hawaii County Film Office, Hawaii 50th Statehood Anniversary Commission and many others.  

For more information visit www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com or call 883-0394.