Big Island Film Festival at The Mauna Lani Resort Hawaii

What's Happening?

Big Island Film Festival is a “Talk Story” film festival. We only screen narrative films with story telling as our main focus.

Films are shown in three places:

The Daytime Films will be presented in two-hour blocks of narrative features and/or shorts from Friday through Sunday at the newly renovated air-conditioned theater (downstairs) at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i. Self-parking tickets will be validated to allow free parking.

The Family Films, a family feature and short film, will be presented on Friday through Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. Through the courtesy of The Shops at Mauna Lani, the Family Films are FREE to the public – bring your beach chairs! Some chairs available.

The Festival Films venue offers two features and short films, which could be up to R ratings, outdoors on Friday through Sunday 7:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. at The Fairmont Orchid’s Plantation Estate – follow the path to the tennis pavilion. This site is lawn seating, so bring your beach chairs or blankets. Some chairs available for visitors without beach chairs. Concessions are available. You may bring your own snacks, but no outside liquor or ice chests, please.

Social Events:

Special opportunities to meet and greet our visiting filmmakers will take place before and after the showing of their films and at special events. Q & A as time permits.

Reservations are required for the following events: Meet the Stars, two VIP Celebrity Receptions, & Awards Brunch. Tickets are required for these events and can be purchased online or from the Concierge Desk at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai’i. Concierge desk transactions must be made by credit card.

Schedule for award recognition: Celebrity Receptions will be held on Saturday & Sunday evenings at 4:30 p.m. Details are available online and at ticket sites.

Filmmaker Workshop:

Saturday, Filmmaker Workshops: Two workshops will be presented by screenwriter Ron Osborn. Details will be posted on this website workshop page by April 1. $50 each.

Concert & Best of the Fest Audience Choice Films

The “Best of the Fest” on Memorial Day located at The Fairmont Orchid’s Plantation Estate begins with a concert in the late afternoon followed by the Audience Choice feature and short at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction to benefit Fisher House at Tripler Army Medical Center will be held on site. (Items may be donated to the silent auction by calling the Big Island Film Festival office at 808 883-0394 prior to May 20, 2013). A donation from each Best of the Fest ticket sold will also be contributed to Hawai’i Island Food Basket.

Come experience this inspiring event each year with new films, celebrity sightings, meeting new filmmakers, and sharing our beautiful island.