2015 Maui Film Festival Releases Lineup

By Maui Now Staff

The 2015 Maui Film Festival has released its lineup of honorees, screenings and special events taking place from June 3 to 7 in Wailea and Kahului.

The 16th film festival will be held at Celestial Cinema located at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course, the Castle and McCoy Theater at the state-of-the-art Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, and the Toes in the Sand Cinema located on Wailea Beach behind the Four Seasons Maui.

This festival offers a full schedule of screenings and special events throughout the Wailea Resort (see “Schedule of Awards, Film Screenings, Culinary and Cultural Events” below).

Award ceremonies during the festival will honor Laura Dern, Adam Driver, Scott Eastwood, Colin Farrell, Teresa Palmer and Louie Psihoyos.

In addition to star-studded ceremonies, the schedule is packed with screenings of life-affirming films, inspiring filmmakers and fabulous events that will highlight the culture, food and beauty of Maui.

Tickets and passes for the festival are available online.

“With more honorees than we’ve celebrated in a decade, and a living, breathing wish list of many of the most critically acclaimed films of summer, and Maui as it’s home, the 16th Annual Maui Film Festival is ready for its close up,” said Festival Director Barry Rivers. “Come June 3rd, we plan to ‘light the candle,’–make that 16 candles!–and blast off for a five day and night early celebration of summer cinema and culinary arts celebrations par excellence!”

For additional information, call the Maui Film Festival Headquarters at (808) 579-9244 or go online.

Schedule of Awards, Film Screenings, Culinary and Cultural Events

AWARDS PRESENTATIONS

Wednesday, June 3, 8 p.m., Celestial Cinema
Scott Eastwood and Teresa Palmer are receiving the Rising Star Awards, which honors a young film artist whose every role, even their formative years, surprises, enthralls and delights audiences of every age.

Thursday, June 4, 8 p.m., Celestial Cinema
Colin Farrell will be presented with the Rainmaker Award, which honors a film artist for carving a path of distinction through the turbulent waters of the entertainment industry without sacrificing their fundamental commitment to excellence.

Thursday, June 4, 10 p.m., Celestial Cinema
Louie Psihoyos will be presented with the Lights! Camera! Action! Award, which honors a director for their heartfelt personal and professional and heartfelt commitment to make movies that both matter and celebrate the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable challenges. The award will be presented prior to a screening of Psihoyos’ new film, Racing Extinction.

Friday, June 5, 8 p.m., Celestial Cinema
Adam Driver will be presented the Shining Star Award, which honors a film artist who dares to dream big dreams and delivers brilliantly charismatic and revelatory performances every time that opportunity knocks.

Sunday, June 7, 8 p.m., Celestial Cinema
Laura Dern will be presented the Rainmaker Award, which honors a film artist whose eclectic choices and charismatic performances encourage us all to expand our definition of what it means to be human.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, June 3, 5 p.m., Grand Wailea Resort
Taste of Summer Opening Night Party co-hosted by Grand Wailea Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, The Hollywood Reporter and Modern Luxury Hawaiʻi.
This new festival tradition: a time-travel experience to simpler days when Maui Beach Boys and island wahine enjoyed face to face flirting and ‘deserting’ in a gloriously Facebook-free time capsule.

Friday, June 5,  8 p.m., Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Taste of Chocolate co-hosted by Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Variety.
Maui Film Festival’s over-the-top event for chocolate lovers! Eat it, drink it, love it. Dress up and experience the never-been-there, never-had-that, extraordinary flavors and sensual experience that is the Taste of Chocolate.

Saturday, June 6, 4:30  p.m., David Leadbetter Private Golf Academy at Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Courses
Taste of Wailea co-hosted by WHERE Hawaiʻi
The crown jewel event of Maui Film Festival’s culinary arts celebrations, the 16th annual Taste of Wailea will be presented by Wailea Resort’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants.

Saturday, June 6, 10 p.m., Spago at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Soiree at Spago VIP Party presented by Maui No Ka Oi
Party with Maui’s premiere magazine at this exclusive event. Enjoy mouth-watering morsels, specialty cocktails and access to the Ultra VIP Lounge.

CELESTIAL CINEMA SCREENINGS PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

Wednesday, June 3, sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines
8 p..m. – Love & Mercy
10 p.m. – Live from New York!

Thursday, June 4, sponsored by Rising Sun Solar & Electric
8 p.m. – The Search for Freedom
10 p.m. – Racing Extinction

Friday, June 5
8 p.m. – Learning to Drive
10 p.m. – Pretend We’re Kissing preceded by El Beso and Cheese

Saturday, June 6
8 p.m. – Mr. Holmes
10 p.m. – A Little Chaos

Sunday, June 7
8 p.m. – The Wave I Ride
10 p.m. – Planetary

MAUI ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER SCREENINGS

Wednesday, June 3, Castle Theater
5:30 p.m. – Unexpected preceded by The Gnomist
8 p.m. – One Good Year preceded by Green Thumb

Thursday, June 4, Castle Theater
5:30 p.m. – Very Semi-Serious preceded by Donation
8 p.m. – 10,000km directed preceded by Tango Underpants

Friday, June 5, Castle Theater
3 p.m. – Short Films for Grown-Ups Showcase featuring Boats, El Beso, Green Thumb, The Gunfighter, Red Earth Calling, Tango Underpants, Tea with the Dead, Team Work, The Looking Planet, The Bad Boy of Bowling and The World of Tomorrow.
5:30 p.m. – Kahlil’s Gibran’s The Prophet preceded by Growth
8 p.m. – Capital C preceded by Boats and Team Work

Friday, June 5, McCoy Theater
3 p.m. – Family Friendly Short Film Showcase featuring Fly Again, Growth, Gnomist, The Looking Planet, The Present, Ubah! and Une Passion d’Or de Feu
5:30 p.m. – Love is Now preceded by Donation
8 p.m. – Eadweard preceded by Red Earth Calling

Sunday, June 7, Castle Theater
3 p.m. – Visions in the Dark: The Life of Pinky Thompson preceded by Live, Breathe, Hula
5:30 p.m. – Landfill Harmonic preceded by Ubah!
7:30 p.m. – Tenured preceded by Tea with the Dead

Sunday, June 7, McCoy Theater
3 p.m. – Family Friendly Short Film Showcase featuring Fly Again, Growth, Gnomist, The Looking Planet, The Present, Ubah! and Une Passion d’Or de Feu
5 p.m. – A Place to Stand preceded by Une Passion d’Or et de Feu
7:30 p.m. – Jackie & Ryan preceded by Isola del Giglio

TOES-IN-THE-SAND sponsored by Whole Foods
Saturday, June 6
8 p.m. – James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan