Editor

Welcome a new year of films with highlights from around the world and festival standouts. The 31st Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) presented by Halekulani brings some of the hottest films on the festival circuit as opening, centerpiece, and closing night features. These highly-anticipated films bring much buzz and star-power to a lineup featuring 212 films.

This year's opening night film is the Korean submission for the Oscar's Best Foreign Language film THE FRONT LINE, centerpiece will be a sensual 3D film embracing the world of dance, PINA 3D, and finishing the HIFF lineup this year as the closing night film will be THE DESCENDANTS, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. Along with these landmark films are perennial sections such as the HALEKULANI GOLDEN ORCHID AWARDS for Best Feature and Documentary and GALA PRESENTATIONS unveiling high profile films gunning for the awards season.

"People always ask me which films they should see at HIFF," said HIFF Executive Director Chuck Boller. "I always tell them to not miss the Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Films, as well as the Nominated Films and Galas. If you can manage to see all of these, or a good portion of them, you will be seeing some of the very finest films HIFF has to offer."

HIFF has selected a broad range of other films that cover timely subject matter that involve people in a local, national and international level. Ranging from the new section dealing with racy and controversial issues (HIFF EXTREME), the state of the local film industry (MADE IN HAWAII), the convergence of film and music (SOUND x VISION), and an emphasis on LGBT lifestyles (EXPRESS YOURSELF).

With 43 countries represented in this year's festival, HIFF celebrates select locations with spotlight sections and unique films. These high profile sections include SPOTLIGHT ON JAPAN, NEW CHINESE CINEMA, SPOTLIGHT ON KOREA, HONG KONG CINEMA, SPOTLIGHT ON THE PHILIPPINES, and the newest SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA. A celebration of American Immigrant filmmakers with the AMERICAN IMMIGRANT FILMMAKERS ON PROFILE section is also featured in the film program.

The entire film program and schedule is now available online at www.hiff.org.