Closing Press Conference

It was a happy yet melancholy affair today at the Halekulani as HIFF held it’s closing press conference.  Like the cast of a stage production on it’s closing night, or bedtime prayers Christmas evening, we are so thankful for the gifts, but sad to see it pass; happy it happened and looking forward to it’s advent next year.  The closing panel was composed of directors from this year’s fortune of fine films: Masato Harada, Director of Chronicles of My Mother; Prashant Bhargava, Director of Patang; Adam Pesce, Director of Splinters; and Ruslan Pak, Director of Hanaan. It was a very special time, the smaller attendance brought an intimate feeling to the event and the directors got to open up and share from their hearts about their experiences as well as give advice to those who would aspire to sit in their seats (or others like them).

I spoke afterward with Chuck Boller, the Executive Director for HIFF and asked him to share candidly with us about how he feels at the close of yet another festival.  I hope you enjoy the video (more blog after the jump)!

I’ve learned much in the past few weeks, had some neat insights to culture and society, and got to learn much from the richness of the films presented.  But most of all, I’ve learned about myself.  Long nights on my bike after the movies are over and the buses have stopped, peddling slowly up the Pali in the deep dark silences of the night and the occasional speed of a car whizzing past.  I have found myself pensive, reflective -trying not so much to get caught up in the roar and the wash that movie-thrills can bring, but asking questions, pondering what people do and why they do it. I’m considering in a new light, humanity.  And though it’s rather internal and hard to express with words we can write, I think it is a good place to be.