TwoOhSix Recap - 2018 Hawaii International Film Festival

This was my third year covering the Hawaii International Film Festival remotely from my home in Seattle, Washington and each year has been such a blast I am determined to actually attend in 2019. The lineup is always filled with gems, some hidden and some more the blockbuster variety, and they come from all over the world, mostly from countries in the pacific rim. Each of the ten feature films I was able to watch during the festival were entertaining in their own way although, as always, only one was given the title of "TwoOhSix Festival Favorite."

The Prey - 2018 HIFF Movie Review

The Movie: The Prey

The Director: Jimmy Henderson

The Cast: Gu Shangwei, Vithaya Pansringarm, Byron Bishop, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nophand Boonyai, Rous Mony, Dy Sonita, Vandy Piseth, Hun Sophy

The Story: After years of tracking down international criminals, a trip to a remote jungle prison will force Chinese cop Xin to become human prey to fight for his freedom - and to save his own life.

The Hungry Lion / 飢えたライオン - 2018 HIFF Movie Review

The Movie: The Hungry Lion / 飢えたライオン

The Director: Takaomi Ogata

The Cast: Urara Matsubayashi, Atomu Mizuishi, Mariko Tsutsui, Nanami Hidaka, Sakiko Kato

The Story: A high school teacher is fired when a video of him having sex with a teenage girl is exposed on the internet and one of his students suffers from being falsely pegged as the girl in the video.

For Love's Sake / 恋のしずく - HIFF 2018 Movie Review

The Movie: For Love's Sake / 映画「恋のしずく」

The Director: Naoki Segi

The Cast: Chizuru Azuma, Rina Kawaei, Mantaro Koichi, Mao Miyaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Atsushi Nishida, Ren Ohsugi, Hayato Onozuka, Kanji Tsuda, Tomoya Warabino

The Story: An agricultural student who has a passion for wine is sent to a sake brewery on an internship she wanted no part of. While there, she begins to learn about how the creation of sake runs parallel to life and she begins to see the world in different ways.

Gatao 2: Rise of the King / 角頭2：王者再起 - HIFF 2018 Movie Review

The Movie: Gatao 2: Rise of the King / 角頭2：王者再起

The Director: Yen Cheng-Kuo

The Cast: Collin Chou, Shih-Sian Wang, Jack Kao, Peng Sun, Hsin Shao, Ying Di, Jen-Shuo Cheng, Shang-Ho Huang

The Story: A gang lord in Taipei runs into trouble when an old friend returns to force a drug trade into the markets he controls causing chaos and disorder among an otherwise organized and honorable criminal enterprise.

50 First Kisses - HIFF 2018 Movie Review

The Movie: 50 First Kisses

The Director: Yûichi Fukuda

The Cast: Takayuki Yamada, Masami Nagasawa, Taiga, Jiro Sato, Myhraliza Aala, Tsuyoshi Muro, Katsuya, Hiroyasu Yamasaki

The Story: Meeting the woman of your dreams in Hawaii is a blessing until you discover she has short-term memory loss and forgets everything the very next day.

TwoOhSix Picks - 38th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival Presented by Halekulani

This is my fourth year covering the 38th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival Presented by Halekulani and, after looking at the lineup the organizers have put together, this may be their best event yet. You would think that a lineup of amazing movies from around the world would be enough but there are also several other types of events that attendees won't want to miss including a special night honoring the one and only Awkwafina!