2014 Maui Film Festival Complete Line-up

Celestial Cinema. Photo credit: Maui Film Festival.

By Wendy Osher

Festivities surrounding the 2014 Maui Film Festival are planned and ready to be rolled out with screenings and special events taking place June 4 to 8, 2014, in Wailea.

Now in its 15th year, the festival features several venues including: the popular Celestial Cinema located at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course; the Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge at the Grand Wailea; the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului; and the Toes in the Sand Cinema located between the Four Seasons Maui and the Grand Wailea Resort.

Award ceremonies held throughout the event will honor Maui’s own Shep Gordon, as well as Joe Manganiello, Lupita Nyong’o, Emma Roberts and Evan Rachel Wood, according to festival organizers.

“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,” organizers said in a press release announcement.

“From its award worthy premieres to its list of uber-talented honorees and luminaries, the 15th annual Maui Film Festival offers film lovers of every age an experience to remember for a lifetime,” said festival founder Barry Rivers.

Tickets and passes for the festival are on-sale now at the Maui Film Festival website.

The 2014 schedule of awards, screenings and culinary events includes the following list compiled by event organizers:

Awards Presentations

• Shep Gordon will be honored with the Maverick Award at Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4. The Maverick Award “honors an individual who has the courage of their convictions and spares no effort to do the right thing to help those whose life’s work inspires him.”
• Emma Roberts will be honored with the Shining Star Award at Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5. The Shining Star Award “honors a film artist who dares to dream big dreams and delivers brilliantly charismatic and revelatory performances every time that opportunity knocks.”
• Evan Rachel Wood will be honored with the Nova Award at Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6. The Nova Award “honors a film artist for their astonishingly original and seamless performances, and the way they consistently infuse each character that they embody with insight, humanity and wisdom.”
• Joe Manganiello will be honored with the Triple Threat Award at Celestial Cinema located at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course preceding a special screening of La Bare at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 6.  The Triple Threat Award “honors a multi-talented artist who brilliantly juggles three major roles — director, actor, producer in the creation of narrative and documentary projects.”
• Lupita Nyong’o will be honored with the Rainmaker Award at Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.  The Rainmaker Award “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

• Opening Twilight Reception at Capische? at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, at Hotel Wailea.  The event kicks off the 15th Annual Maui Film Festival.  Capische?’s award winning chefs will prepare unique and inventive menu selections complemented by Stella Artois beer and cidre, fine wines by Johnson Brothers of Hawaiʻi, and Pau Maui Vodka Specialty Cocktails. The event is co-hosted by Hawaiian Airlines, The Hollywood Reporter and Modern Luxury Hawaiʻi.
• Taste of Chocolate will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea.  This over-the-top event for chocolate lovers features an indulgent experience in food and drink.  The event is co-hosted by Four Seasons Maui at Wailea and Variety.
• Taste of Wailea takes place at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at the David Leadbetter Private Golf Academy at Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Courses. The Taste of Wailea is described as the “crown jewel event of the Maui Film Festival’s culinary arts celebrations.”  This year’s event is presented by Wailea Resort’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants, complemented by a delicate assortment of fine wines provided by Southern Wine & Spirits, refreshing Stella Artois beer, Stella Artois Cidre, Hoegaarden, Leffe Brune and Pau Maui Vodka Speciality Cocktails, Live World Beat Fusion by Lat. 21˚ N. The event is co-hosted by The Chefs of Wailea Resorts, Rising Solar Power/Sunpower and Wailea Magazine.
• Soiree at Spago VIP Party presented by Maui Nō Ka ʻOi takes place at 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Spago at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. Party with the magazine at this exclusive event while enjoying specialty cocktails, pupus, and access to the Ultra VIP Lounge.

Celestial Cinema Screenings

Wednesday, June 4

• 8 p.m. – Goddess directed by Mark Lamprell
• 10 p.m. – Taking My Parents to Burning Man directed by Joel Ashton McCarthy & Bryant H. Boesen

Thursday, June 5

• 8 p.m. – Thundercloud directed by Talon Clemow
• 10 p.m. – H2Mexic0 directed by Brent Deal

Friday, June 6

• 8 p.m. – Obvious Child directed by Gillian Robespierre
• 10 p.m. – La Bare directed by Joe Manganiello

Saturday, June 7

• 8 p.m. – Chinese Puzzle directed by Cédric Klapisch
• 10 p.m. – God Help The Girl directed by Stuart Murdoch

Sunday, June 8

• 8 p.m. – Words and Pictures directed by Fred Schepisi
• 10 p.m. – Skelton Twins directed by Craig Johnson

Seaside Cinema Music Cafe & Sunset Lounge Screenings

Wednesday, June 4: Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon directed by Mike Myers

Thursday, June 5: Magic Men directed by Guy Nattiv & Erez Tadmor

Friday, June 6: Frank vs. God directed by Stewart Schill

Saturday, June 7: The Grand Seduction directed by Don McKellar

Sunday, June 8: Cuban Fury directed by James Griffiths

***All Seaside Cinema screenings are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. on respective days.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center Screenings

Wednesday, June 4
Castle Theater

• 6 p.m. – Dying to Know: Ram Dass and Timothy Leary directed by Gay Dillingham
• 8 p.m. – Neurons to Nirvana directed by Oliver Hockenhall

Thursday, June 5
Castle Theater

• 4 p.m. – Short Film Showcase One
• 6 p.m. – Kuma Hina directed by Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
• 8 p.m. – X/Y directed by Ryan Piers Williams
• 10 p.m. – Journey to Jah directed by Noël Dernesch & Mortiz Springer

Friday, June 6
Castle Theater

• 3 p.m. – Short Film Showcase Two
• 5 p.m. – East Side Sushi directed by Anthony Lucero
• 7:30 p.m. – Awake: The Life of Yogananda directed by Paola Di Florio & Lisa Leeman

Saturday, June 7
Castle Theater

• 1 p.m. – ‘Long Story’ Shorts
• 3 p.m. – Gabrielle directed by Louise Archambault
• 5:30 p.m. – Begin Again directed by Lisa Spurrier
• 8 p.m. – The Heart Machine directed by Zachary Wigon

Sunday, June 8
Castle Theater

• 3 p.m. – Keep On Keepin’ On directed by Alan Hicks
• 5 p.m. – Breath of Life directed by Susan Kucera
• 7:30 p.m. – Encoded directed by Tim Bonython, Wild Australia directed by Tim Bonython & XOXO directed by Brent Deal & Chris Aguilar

McCoy Theater

• 3 p.m. – Impossible Light directed by Jeremy Ambers & XOXO directed by Brent Deal & Chris Aguilar
• 5 p.m. – Even Though The World Is Burning directed by Stefan Schaefer
• 7:30 p.m. – Tracks directed by John Curran

TOES-IN-THE-SAND sponsored by Whole Foods
Sunday, June 8

• 8 p.m. – Slingshot directed by Paul Lazarus & The Conservationist directed by Ruth Kelly

Additional scheduled screenings and events can be found on the Maui Film Festival website.