2019 Maui Film Festival eBook Program by Maui Film Festival

CAST & C RE W

Home Sweet Home.

Festival Co-Directors Stella Rivers Wendy Goodman Ben Goodman aka PR Director

Founder/Director Barry Rivers

2019 From the abundant beauty of Maui's sun, moon and stars, sand, sea and surf and breathtakingly unique and verdant bounty of its ﬂora and fauna, Maui had the Rivers ‘ohana at "Aloha". But there's been much more keeping us "all in" for so long. Key among them is the deep connection so many of us feel for the insight and wisdom of Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures. Their joyful and plaintive music, powerful and sensual dance, its impossible to resist and overwhelmingly powerful chants and righteously indignant political and peace activism also inspire and move me beyond words. All of these things reverberate through the Festival that we present this year. It is a panoramic exploration of life well lived alongside insightful cinema that digs deeply into issues of the day and challenges presented by the future. As longtime peace and environmental activists on the mainland 40 years ago, the Rivers 'ohana was drawn to the heartfelt, and eventually successful, efforts of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana (PKO) to stop the bombing of the sacred island of Kaho'olawe. To us, the PKO's protests provided a shining example about what was possible when like-minded people pull together for a just cause. The PKO's activism also provided crystal clear lessons in how the ripples of many perfectly pitched pebbles, and the occasional boulder or two, tossed by the Davids of the world can triumph over its Goliaths. In this instance they also ignited a contemporary rebirth and renaissance of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language),

Oli (chant), hula (dance) and mele (song) and a reinvigorated respect for traditional cultural practices and traditions. At the time, the idea of making our 'Home' an island where a culture was literally being reborn in contemporary times lit us up. We wanted in. Jumped in. And found ourselves in love. The Festival you'll hopefully enjoy this year in no small way was inspired by those very early Kaho'olawe protests. And here we are 40 years later offering on of our Hawai'i-centric Festivals ever and a program that remains independent and meaningful and gratifying. Please visit MauiFilmFestival.com/program to view this year’s ﬁlm program. For all this, and all who help manifest each year's event, we are extremely grateful and proud. Doing the right thing matters. That said, and this year being our 20th, and still hard to believe, annual Maui Film Festival, We want to conclude this year’s message with a big shout to all of you who have supported us and all of our longtime sponsors — key among them all the resorts in Wailea, the HTA, County of Maui and all the private sector sponsors and individuals who, for so many years, have been the wind under out wings.

Event Production Manager Jeanine Thomason

Director of Operations Bob Craver

Executive Assistant Cynthia Pegolo Website / Newsletter Design Barry Rivers & Cynthia Pegolo Volunteer Guru/Maven Keith Ranney

Box Office Team Naomi Adams, Manager Nancy Findeison, Co-Manager Lindy Shapiro, Celestial Cinema Mgr Scrip Sales Manager Romelle Verduzco

Wailea Office Team Office Manager Maile Davis

Technical Director Lou DiLiberto

Operations Coordinators Allison Carter Kelly Keenan

Cinema Projection/Audio Tech DTA Bob Deutsch Dakota Milam

Transportation Coordinator Darcey Lewis

Audio Charles Trundy

Office Assistants Jody Arthur Cindy Pestana

Chief Rigger Joseph Imhoff Andy Schmelzer

Celestial Cinema Crew Charles Hook Jim Nichols Charles Valliere Matthew Figueira Ali Rose Panzarella Robert Betts

Social Media Director Kristin McCracken Event Program & Graphics Art to Print Hawaii Festival Printer Maui Printing Company

Print Traffic Coordinator Cynthia Pegolo

Media Consultant Andrew Goodman

Bookkeepers Naomi Adams Asst. Volunteer Coordinators Hilary Williams Jamine Kilborn Aliki Biniaris Festival Trailer - Picture Mill Bill Lebeda, Creative Director Evan Jackson Celestial Stage Manager Sharon Drayer Munz Celestial Front of House Gina Strykul MACC Coordinators Laura Seaton Denise Fleetham Fiscal Sponsor MEDB Legal Eagle Jack Naiditch, Esq. Ticketing System Vendini.com

Special Events Consultant Michael Rose Special Events Coordinator Michael Huffman Festival Astronomer Harriet Witt Private VIP Surf Lessons RiversToTheSea.com VIP Shuttle Drivers Cloy Jenkins Diane Dooley, Michael Kierz Bill Mellus Lisa Sue Royer Festival Medic Danny Williams Filmmaker Panels Coordinator Nancie Brown Website Consultant Aaron Moore-Brown

Mahalo and Enjoy! Special Thanks All the Guardian Angels — You now Who You Are — Who Appear Out of Thin Air to Make Each Year’s Festival Rock! And Roll!

Barry Rivers Founder & Director