Movie Preview: Hawaii International Film Festival 2016

More than 160 films from 41 countries will be screened over the next week and a half at the 36th annual Hawaii International Film Festival.

The best way to figure out what you might like to see is to visit the Festival website (www.hiff.org) where you can check out the daily schedule, read about every movie, and even watch trailers for most of them.

Of course, you can also buy tickets online for anything you want to see.

I haven't watched any of the films yet, but here are a few that I think will be worth seeing.

HEARING IS BELIEVING is a documentary about an extraordinarily talented young musician who was born blind.

Rachel Flowers is a prodigy who was able to play Bach fugues at the age of four after hearing them only once. She plays flute and guitar as well as keyboards, and she also composes.

Raised by a devoted single mother, Rachel caught the attention of Hawaii born writer-director Lorenzo Stefano, who spent a year and a half shooting this promising looking documentary.

Rachel Flowers and Stephano are both here for the film's two festival screenings plus Rachel will perform at the Blue Note in Waikiki next Wednesday.

Narrator: To get the kind of shots he did, you have to be in the eye of the hurricane. Statistically, it's the most dangerous surf break in the world. By far more deaths have occurred at Pipeline.

TRANSCEND, THE JON MOZO STORY is a documentary tribute to the popular surf photographer who was killed at Pipeline in 2005. A year later, his family found a hidden note that said, 'The ocean has given me so much; one day it will take, and I will give.' This movie is co-directed by his wife Nikki and Devon Graham.

Another film that I'd like to see is PATERSON starring Adam Driver as a quiet, poetry writing bus driver in Paterson, New Jersey. It will open for a regular theatrical run on December 28th.

My final pick is LION, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, and Rooney Mara. LION is about a five year old boy who gets separated from his family in India and adopted by an Australian family.  Years later, as an adult he goes back to his home country to try to find the family he lost. LION is one of the most anticipated movies at this festival, but if it sells out, don't worry. It opens in regular theaters on November 25th.

Terry Hunter, Hawaii News Now.    thunter@hawaiinewsnow.com