Maui Film Festival’s Celestial Cinema Coming Up

Celestial Cinema on the lawn, under the stars. Photo courtesy of Maui Film Festival.

By Madeline Ziecker

It’s finally that time of year – Maui is gearing up for one of the most popular annual events on the island, Maui Film Festival’s 13th Annual Celestial Cinema in Wailea.

Maui Film Festival 2012 features high-quality films shown on a 50-foot-wide screen under the stars in south Maui at Wailea Resort and in the MACC’s Castle Theater from Wednesday, June 13 – Sunday, June 17. Maui Film Festival organizers have added 24 film screenings to a growing list that will be further updated as the event approaches.

The Maui Film Festival has screened over 500 films since its inception. Each year, celebrity guests who appear in some of the selected films are specially invited to attend the Wailea festival. Past visitors include Joan Allen, Adrien Brody, Pierce Brosnan, Tim Burton, Claire Danes, Zooey Deschanel, Clint Eastwood, Zac Efron, Andrew Garfield, Jake Gyllenhaal, Woody Harrelson, Garrett Hedlund, Mike Myers, Dennis Quaid, Owen Wilson, Olivia Wilde, and many others.

This year’s star line-up features the talented and extremely funny actress Elizabeth Banks along with Josh Radnor, writer/director/co-star of one of the festival’s featured films – Liberal Arts.

Josh Radnor appears on the festival’s opening night, June 13, at 8 p.m. and will then be presented with the Triple Threat Award Tribute by Maui Film Festival.

Elizabeth Banks is to be honored with the festival’s Navigator Award for making a significant mark in the entertainment industry “without sacrificing commitment to excellence.” She will grace the Celestial Cinema stage on the final night of the festival, June 17.

Culinary events surrounding the festival include a Twilight Reception ($125) at Capische? on Wednesday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m.; Taste of Chocolate ($125) at Four Seasons Resort Maui Wailea on Friday, June 15 at 10 p.m.; Taste of Wailea ($120) at David Leadbetter Golf Academy on Saturday, June 16 at 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday Starry Night MoonDance ($75) at Mulligans on the Blue on Sunday, June 17 at 10 p.m.

For further information on Maui Film Festival’s Celestial Cinema and other events, visit www.mauifilmfestival.com.