Hawaii International Film Festival 2009

Because of their limited talents on the field Masato and Nobu are usually relegated to the stands along with the rest of the fans, but during their senior year they make a pact to do their utmost to achieve a roster position. Offering an interesting insight to the unique high school baseball culture in Japan, 108 (HYAKU HACHI) at its core is a reminder to all sports enthusiasts of why we play the game.

It all begins in 1969 when a young boy named Kenji and his friends write 'The Book of Prophecy.' Years later in 1997, a mysterious cult led by a man only known as 'Friend' has emerged and gained strong influence over society. A series of catastrophic events begin to occur, mirroring the prophecies made up by the young Kenji. The only people who know about The Book are Kenji and his childhood friends. Who is Friend? Can Kenji and his friends save the world to see the 21st Century?

It is now 2015, and Friend rules a disturbing new world. The surviving secret base members have spent the last 15 years in finding out the truth about Friend, and they discover The New Book of Prophecy, the sequel to The Book of Prophecy. The New Book describes an event: In 2015, at a church in Shinjuku, a savior will rise to uphold justice but will be assassinated. Once again, Doomsday looms near...

It is now 2017, and after the spread of the deadly virus in Tokyo, a wall was built around the city and people's lives have been restricted. As World President, Friend tells everyone that on August 20th, aliens will destroy mankind and only those who believe in him will be saved. Kanna is now the leader of a group much more radical than Yoshitune's but both continue to fight against Friend.

Throughout the Philippines, rumors persist of buried treasures left behind by the Japanese after their occupation of the islands. Tales, like that of the elusive Yamashita treasure, have enticed fortune hunters from around the world to search caves and tunnels throughout the land. 24K is the true story of one adventurous hunt for these lost spoils of war.

When rickshaw driver Huang learns that the woman he secretly admires is leaving Hainan Island (the Hawaii of China) on the last boat out, he must race to the harbor before love sets sail without him. But impeding his quest is an oversexed American whom Huang must chauffeur around for the entire day. This is a story about two polar opposite men who discover they have more in common than could have ever been imagined at first glance. And the key to this revelation lies in one green tropical nut, an island treasure with social and cultural significance.

9500 LIBERTY documents an explosive battle over immigration policy in Prince William County, Virginia. This county's government folds under pressure and passes a resolution allowing police to stop and demand US identification from anyone they have "probable cause" to suspect is an undocumented immigrant. The issue of illegal immigrants has become one of the most divisive topics over the past years and this movie exposes the dangers of just pushing illegal immigrants out.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Academy for Creative Media empowers students to tell accurate and authentic stories of Hawai'i, the Pacific and Asia through digital cinema, animation, game design and critical studies. Films include: DOG AND CAT 2009 | 11M - Robert A. Omura FLOWERS, CHOCOLATES, AND CANDLELIT DINNERS 2009 | 12M - Priscilla Stafford JIXIANG JUNCTION 2009 | 10M - Kevyn Fong, Gloria Pan Huijia LI HING MUI, LILIKOI & LYCHEE 2009 | 11M - Lauren Cheape LIVE TONIGHT 2009 | 9M - Aina Paikai LULU 2009 | 4M - Brittany Itsuno WATCH YOUR TONGUE 2009 | 16M - Nasser Marghalani

In the wake of a major battle during the Iran-Iraq war, a cameraman finds himself stranded in the wilderness alongside only two other survivors, an Iraqi and an Iranian soldier. With a single gun between them, the soldiers alternatively take each other hostage, marching aimlessly upon the scorched earth. Realizing that neither has anything left to go back to, they form an unlikely friendship, to which the cameraman is the sole witness.