By Peter Belsito | SydneysBuzzDecember 9, 2015 at 1:00PM

In late November I had the privilege of being a guest at the Hawaii International Film Festival where a wonderful film business seminar was being held during and at the Fest in Honolulu, hosted by Katherine J. Winston and Amy Baker, Co-Founders & Managing Partners WINSTON | BAKER.

In a coming blog I’ll write abut that important Seminar but here now I want to focus on this wonderful Film Festival.

HIFF 2015 ran from November 12-22: the HIFF 35th Annual Fall Festival.
READ MORE: 35th Hawaii International Film Festival Audience Award Winners

I sat down during the Fest Executive Director Robert Lambeth and HIFF Director Emeritus Chuck Boller. We discussed the vision and mission of this interesting event.

Firstly they see themselves as an important voice for independent film in their key position between N America and Asia. They relate to both areas consistently and well and their activities and programming reflects this.

Secondly, as Americans facing LA and its huge film biz they want also to be active and influential in developing and expanding their relationships here, both with indies, the filmmakers and where and when possible to conduct co activities with Hollywood.

Thirdly they look to Asia, and especially the burgeoning Chinese film business, as natural partners and participants in joint activities with film and exhibition activities as well as possible co productions.

To say they are ambitious (and I mean this ‘in a good way’) doesn’t begin to describe their vision.

Of course I was impressed and excited to talk with them and to participate in the Winston Baker seminar and in the Hawaii International Film Festival.

As the vanguard forum of international cinematic achievement in the Asia-Pacific region, Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) endeavors to recognize new and emerging talent, promote career development and original collaborations through innovative education programs, and facilitate dynamic cultural exchange through the cinema arts.

HIFF is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) & Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG).
History 

HIFF started as a project of the East-West Center, an educational and research institution created by U.S. Congress and located on the University of Hawai`i Manoa campus in Honolulu. Jeannette Paulson Hereniko was HIFF’s Founding Director, from 1981 to 1996.

In 1981, HIFF’s inaugural year, the program consisted of seven films from six countries which were viewed by an audience of 5,000. Today, HIFF is a premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 70,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world.
Programming 

HIFF is unique in discovering features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawai`i filmmakers that present Hawai`i in a culturally accurate way.

Each year in preparation for the event, HIFF programmers view some 1,000 films and choose an average of 150 features, documentaries and film shorts. Among them are world premieres, North American premieres, U.S. premieres, experimental films, animation and digital works representing social and ethnic issues, and first features by new directors.

HIFF also conducts seminars, workshops, special award presentation receptions with top Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers participating.

Since its inception, more than 950,000 people from throughout the world have shared HIFF film screenings and insights.

HIFF audiences reflect the diverse multi-cultural face of Hawaii. For example, Chinese Americans see films from Japan; Japanese Americans see films from Korea. In so doing, HIFF helps to enrich, enlighten and broaden support for Asian and Pacific films by HIFF members, film festival fans and new audiences alike.