Maui Film Festival

The Maui Film Festival is a film festival held annually on the island of Maui, Hawaii.^[1][2] It was founded in 2000 by Barry Rivers.^[3] Past attendees include Bryan Cranston,^[4] Freida Pinto,^[5] Connie Britton,^[6] and Pierce Brosnan^[7]

The Maui Film Festival is nicknamed “Cinema-Under-the-Stars” because of its location on Maui, one of the eight Hawaiian Islands. The festival takes place annually over five days in June. It is based at Grand Wailea Resort and includes film premieres, filmmaker panels, special screenings, tributes, award ceremonies, culinary arts celebrations, and private soirees.

History[]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The festival was started in 2000 by Barry Rivers. It originated from a weekly screening series that Rivers began in 1997. Rivers studied Film & Media Arts at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rivers is still the director of the festival.

Program[]

This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The festival's program is passionately and cleverly formed. Filmmakers submit features and shorts, then the programmers choose around 50 films to be screened over the five-day program. Certain filmmakers, actors, and actresses receive awards based on who the programmers think best fits the award criteria for that year. The Maui Film Festival is an audience festival rather than a business festival [5].^[8] Its programmers work to leave out big business, so it can focus on the audience's experience and the filmmaker's films. The festival discourages schmoozing [3]. Rather it prides itself on being particularly inviting to filmmakers and celebrities because it values privacy. The programmers purposefully do not involve too many cameras or journalists, so the attendees do not get overwhelmed [6].^[9] As a result, the festival has a casual setting and filmmakers and celebrities often intermingle with the attendees. For example, Clint Eastwood [4] and his family once brought lawn chairs and sat with the rest of the audience to enjoy a feature that was being shown outside at Celestial Cinema [5].^[8]

Venues[]

This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Taking advantage of its landscape, the Maui Film Festival screens many of its films outdoors. Celestial Cinema is the festival's main venue. Films are also projected onto a 50-foot screen set on the Gold & Emerald Golf Course [5].^[8] Its outdoor location can hold 2,500+. Attendees bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the grass as they watch the film.

In addition, the festival has two venues at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. The first venue, Castle Theater, is dubbed ‘Maui’s Movie Palace’; it is the Center's principal performance space and seats 1,200 people in its multitiered configuration. The second venue at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is the McCoy Studio Theater. It is called the “black box” because of its smaller, more intimate feel, seating no more than 250 people [7].^[10] One of the festival's most unique venues is the Toes in the Sand Cinema on Wailea Beach in front of the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. It holds a free community screening that usually features a program of short films [8].^[11]

Events[]

The festival includes many events. It begins with an Opening Night Twilight Reception at Grand Wailea Resort.

Awards and honors[]

The Maui Film Festival honors film artists, actors, and actresses for achievements.

Lights! Camera! Action! Award: Honors directors. Winners include Olivia Wilde.

Maverick Award: Honors actors and actresses who promote activism in protecting the Earth.

Navigator Award: Honors film actors and actresses. Winners include Gina Rodriguez.

Nova Award: Honors film actors/actresses.^[12] Winners include Jessica Chastain and Paul Rudd.

Pathfinder Award: Honors actors and actresses. Pierce Brosnan received this award, making him the first two-time honoree at the Maui Film Festival after also winning the Maverick Award [12].^[13]

Rainmaker Award: Honors actors/actresses. In 2016, Michael B. Jordan was awarded the Rainmaker Award for his powerful and emotional lead roles in ‘Fruitvale Station’ and ‘Creed.’

Rising Star Award: Honors young actors and actresses. Winners include Karen Gillan, Nick Robinson and Maya Erskine.

Shining Star Award: Honors film actors and actresses. Past winners have been Zac Efron, Andrew Garfield, Olivia Wilde, Emma Roberts, Amber Heard and Awkwafina.

Shooting Star Award: Honors an actor in a Maui Film Festival Hawaii Premiere. Winners include Joe Manganiello.

Visionary Award: Honors actors and actresses.^[14] Winners include Louie Schwartzberg.

References[]

• “Schmooze.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schmooze.
• “Maui Now: 2018 Maui Film Festival ‘Toes in the Sand Cinema.’” Maui Now | Ask a Maui Doctor: How Much Poke Is Too Much?, mauinow.com/2018/06/14/2018-maui-film-festival-toes-in-the-sand-cinema-tonight/.

References[]