MEDIA RELEASE

Now in its ninth year, the Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (BIFF) has announced its 48 Official Selections, to be screened May 22-26.

The “talk story” film festival is a celebration of narrative films and filmmaking, with free family films at The Shops at Mauna Lani, daytime movies and nightly double features for grown-ups with no-host bar and pupus, plus “meet-the-stars” celebrity social events and more at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii.

On Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m., BIFF’s Grand Opening at The Shops at Mauna Lani will include a free sampler of short films, and a chance to welcome filmmakers to the Island.

Celebrity guests Portia Doubleday (“Her,” “Carrie” and “Youth in Revolt”) and Jackson Rathbone (“Jasper” in the “Twilight” series) will appear in person, to give fans a chance to show their aloha.

BIFF at Mauna LaniBy special arrangement with Warner Brothers, “Sophia Grace and Rosie’s Royal Adventure” will be presented at The Shops at Mauna Lani Center Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23.

The brand-new film stars British cousins, Sophia Grace Brownlee and Rosie McClelland, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award Winners and frequent guests of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In the movie, to be released May 20 on DVD, the girls are Ellen’s special correspondents, sent to cover the coronation of a new queen.

Other notable BIFF Official Selections include the time-travel mystery-thriller “Time Lapse,” the intense and intimate portrait of homelessness, “3:13,” drama “Pretty Rosebud,” about an ambitious career woman whose unorthodox choices unravel her carefully constructed world, and comedy “Welcome to the Lucky Country” a laughable look at an Australian reality show.

Contenders from Hawaii include Keo Woolford’s acclaimed “The Haumana,” which chronicles the journey of a new Kumu Hula and his high school men’s halau, with choreography by Robert Cazimero, Lanakila Casupang, Maelia Loebenstein-Carter and Kaipo Hale.

From the Big Island, “Bullitt and the Curse of the Blood Ring” is the next chapter of the continuing island action-adventure, produced, acted, and directed by Kona filmmakers Richard Gonzalez and Rockwood.

The Official Selections for BIFF 2014 are:

* 3:13
* BULLITT and the Curse of the Blood Ring
* Butterfly Dreams
* Courting Chaos
* Day For Night
* Druid Peak
* Great
* Helen Alone
* Horse for Sale
* If We Were Adults
* Light Me Up
* Limit
* Little Girl’s War Cry
* Lost Island of the Firewalkers
* Makua Charley
* Meet Anna
* Mirror
* Missing Child
* No More Aloha
* One Weekend
* Poison Apple
* Posey
* Pretty Rosebud
* Prinsesa
* Ravi & Jane
* Rise Again
* Rose, Mary and Time
* Shadow
* Sheltered Love
* Solace
* Sophia Grace and Rosie’s Royal Adventure
* Suka
* Suriname Gold
* Take a Deep Breath
* The Bathroom Attendant
* The End
* The Haumana
* The Haunting of Heather
* The Honey Maple Morgan
* The Maury Island Incident
* The New Neighbors
* The Pimp & The Rose
* Time Lapse
* Tuesday Morning
* We Are Enemies
* Welcome to the Lucky Country
* Wolf Summer
* Zone 7

A limited number of ballots will be given to audience members during each screening. Votes are tallied at the end of the festival, to determine the Audience-choice Feature and Short to be screened at Best of the Fest on Monday, May 26.

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Willie K Headlines “Best of the Fest”

Blues man, jazz artist, Hawaiian songwriter, slack key master, rock & roll, reggae and occasional opera singer, Hawaii’s own Willie K brings his considerable talents to the stage on Monday, May 26, 2014, for Big Island Film Festival’s “Best of the Fest” concert at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii.

Willie Kahaialii, (Willie K) has been entertaining audiences around the world since age 10; won multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards — most recently for “Warehouse Blues” – and a Grammy Award nomination.

An eclectic and charismatic guitarist, Willie K has been called “a Hawaiian Jimi Hendrix,” by Honolulu Weekly, who also said, “he’s Gabby Pahinui, Andres Segovia and Eddie Van Halen rolled into one. Willie can mimic seemingly any style, moving easily between screaming Stratocaster, sweet slack key and jazzy, almost baroque, acoustic 12-string.”

In 2011, Willie K appeared on screen at BIFF in “Get a Job,” the outrageously funny comedy written and directed by Brian Kohne.

The Maui-created film boasted an all-star lineup of top Hawaii entertainers that also included Eric Gilliom, Augie T, Jake Shimabukuro, Carolyn Omine, Slam Poet Kealoha, Ernie Cruz, Jr., Amy Hanaialii, Mick Fleetwood, Pat Simmons, the late Charles Kaupu, Willie Nelson, and Henry Kapono.

An entertainer with a generous heart, Willie K finds numerous ways to give back to the community. His annual Celebrity Golf Tournament for the Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Oncology Department is now in its eleventh year; and he is Hawaii spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. And, he can add Fisher House at Tripler Army Medical Center to his credit, as “Best of the Fest” includes a silent auction benefit for this important resource for military families.”

Admission is $40 at the door ($30 kamaaina) and $35 in advance ($25 kamaaina), $10 keiki 7-12. Some chairs will be available as will no-host bar, gourmet pupus and other movie snacks (no coolers).

Tickets for “Best of the Fest” with Willie K can be purchased online at www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com

Best of the Fest includes:

* Silent Auction to benefit Fisher House at Tripler Army Medical Center, 5-7 p.m.

* Willie K in Concert, 5-7 p.m.

* Audience-voted Best Feature and Best Short Films of BIFF 2013, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Best of the Fest is also a fundraiser for Hawaii Island Food Basket.
The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival is a celebration of independent narrative films and filmmaking, taking place May 22-26, with celebrity guests Jackson Rathbone (the “Twilight” series) and Portia Doubleday (“Carrie,” “Youth in Revolt”).

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Professional Writing, Filmmaking Workshops

Presenting a rare opportunity for island filmmakers and writers to learn from and be inspired by some of the best in the business, Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii offers three relevant workshops, presented by top entertainment industry professionals, May 22-25.

Writer, producer Ron Osborn (DUCKMAN, MEET JOE BLACK, THE WEST WING, MOONLIGHTING) has been nominated for seven Emmys, three Cable Ace Awards and two Writers Guild Awards.

He has written pilots for every primetime American network, as well as for such cable networks as Showtime, FX, USA, ABC Family, Lifetime, and Disney.

Osborn’s workshop, “The First 10 Pages,” focuses on the most important part of any script, and how to grab readers from the opening moments. Sat., May 24, 8:30-11 a.m. in the Lehua Theatre, $50.

Jen Grisanti, writing instructor for NBC’s “Writers on the Verge,” and acclaimed story/career consultant, will talk about “Adding Fiction to the Truth in Your Writing.”

Since she launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy in 2008, Grisanti has worked with over 500 writers specializing in television, features and novels with numerous successes.

Her approach emphasizes the use of a writer’s personal history and emotional “gold” to key in to universal dilemmas, failures and successes that immediately connect with an audience. Sunday, May 25, 8:30-11 a.m. in the Lehua Theatre, $50.

Advance registration is required by May 20, and registration forms may be found online at www.bigislandfilmfestival.com

In a special session, Peter Caranicas of Variety will discuss “Trade Journalism as it relates to Film & Television” on Friday, May 23, 9:45- 11 a.m.

As Deputy Editor, Caranicas is responsible for the features sections (published more than 200 times a year), covering film festivals, up-and-comers, industry anniversaries, in-depth analysis of awards shows such as the Oscars and the Emmys, and key players in entertainment.

Immediately following Filmmaker Orientation in the Lehua Theatre, Caranicas’ presentation is open to the public at a cost of $20 per person.

Big Island Film Festival at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is a celebration of narrative filmmaking, May 22-26, 2014. Events include free family films under the stars at The Shops at Mauna Lani, daytime movies and nightly double features at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (free parking), networking opportunities, celebrity receptions, awards brunch and a closing night “Best of the Fest.”

Best of the Fest is a fundraising event for Hawaii Island Food Basket, with Willie K in concert, silent auction for the Tripler Army Medical Center’s Fisher House for military families, and the audience-voted Best Feature and Best Short films of BIFF 2014.

Major sponsors include The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, The Shops at Mauna Lani, Hawaii Tourism Authority/Hawaii County CPEP and many others.

For more information, complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, call 883-0394 or visit www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com