The Hawaii International Film Festival’s 38th year presented by Halekulani will be kicking off from Nov. 8-18.
Executive Director Beckie Stocchetti is in her second year at the helm of HIFF and has been making strides bringing HIFF to a healthier festival financially and positioning HIFF to once again become one of the top film festivals to attend.
Special guests this year include: legendary film director from Hong Kong, Wong Kar Wai, Awkwafina from “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Ocean’s 8” and recently became the second Asian female to host Saturday Night Live will be receiving the HIFF Maverick Award.
Also receiving the Maverick Award is actor Steven Yeun from “The Walking Dead,” “OKJA” and “Burning” will be at HIFF this year. From South Korea, actress Moon So-ri will be here to screen “The Running Actress” as the director.
HIFF, bridging the East and West, has over 180 films from 37 countries this year. For more information visit www.hiff.org.
Weekly update
‘Rich Son’
Episodes 89 &90 (Fri); Episodes 91 &92 (Sat)
Friday, 7:45 p.m: Seo Hee is torn, as she holds the recipe book in her hands. Sun Young tells Bok Soon that she can’t give up on Yong, putting Bok Soon in an awkward position. Young Ha and Gwang Jae’s meal box business is a hit with customers. Hyo Dong receives a box from an anonymous sender, shocking Gwang Jae and Young Ha.
Saturday, 7:45p.m.: Gwang Jae gets furious with Tae Il. Sun Young’s mother flips Yong’s shop upside down. Young Ha asks Tae Il why he betrayed Gwang Jae. Bum Joon makes Gwang Jae an unexpected offer.
‘Where Stars Land’
Episodes 5 &6 (Mon); 7 &8 (Tues)
Monday 7:45 p.m.: Yeo Reum can’t help, but feel for Soo Yeon after she finds out that he can’t feel any pain in his right arm and hand. Yeo Reum tries her best to do better, so she will not be considered a nuisance any longer. But against all odds, she gets tangled up in a complicated situation with a passenger.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: People becoming increasingly curious about Soo Yeon’s secret and he feels burdened by the attention. Soo Yeon and Yeo Reum team up with the security team to help a passenger. Will they get through this day without any conflicts or mishaps?
‘Heart Surgeons’
Episodes 5 &6 (Wed); 7 &8 (Thur)
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Tae Soo finds himself in a compromising situation when he must choose to save either his mother or a patient who’s waiting for his surgery. He must act quick as his mother may not survive much longer. Seok Han feels for Tae Soo as he once lost someone he held dear. With Soo Yeon’s sudden appearance, a long overdue conflict between them surfaces.
Thursday 7:45 p.m: A patient Tae Soo risked his position to save turns out to be related to a doctor whose life he ruined. Dr. Hwang, who shows up as the patient’s guardian, finds out Tae Soo used industrial adhesive to seal the heart.
‘Ms. Ma, Nemesis’
Episodes 5 &6; 7 &8 (Sun)
Today, 6:45 p.m.: Ms. Ma narrowly escapes a dangerous situation, with the help of Seo Eun Ji. She’s thrown into confusion, not knowing Eun Ji’s identity and motive.
Today, 7:45 p.m.: Ms. Ma receives an endless stream of threatening letters. After a recent suicide case, the people are driven into a panic.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with subtitles. This column offers synopses of the dramas playing in Hawaii. He can be reached at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
