Louis Vuitton Hawaii International FIlm Festival 2008

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural moments of a generation. In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of like minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture. Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories. It speaks to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth.

Filmed over the course of 23 years, THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON) is an epic story of one family's journey from war-torn Laos to the mean streets of New York in the 80's to the present. Thavisouk Phrasavath tells the story of himself as a young man struggling to survive a war and the hardships of immigrant life. His mother tells her own astonishing tale of perseverance as a soldier's wife. Breathtaking and compelling, renowned cinematographer Ellen Kuras's directorial debut is a remarkable collaboration with co-director Phrasavath – a poetic, deeply personal film about the hidden, human face of war's "collateral damage."

Money talks. Teens in Los Angeles discuss money: getting it, spending it and learning to live without it. An original short film by award-winning filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield, KIDS + MONEY is a conversation with young people from diverse Los Angeles communities about the role of money in their lives. From rich to poor, Pacific Palisades to East L.A., kids address how they are shaped by a culture of consumerism.

Dennis Lambert was one of the most successful and diverse songwriter/producers of the '70s and '80s, with hits like "Ain’t No Woman Like The One I’ve Got", "Rhinestone Cowboy", and "Nightshift". Today, he's a 60-year-old family man selling houses in Florida. But his obscure 1972 solo album is huge... in the Philippines. A Filipino promoter has begged Dennis to tour for decades, and in 2007 he finally agreed. A hilarious documentary that follows Dennis as he rediscovers his passion for music. Some lives deserve an encore.