Major theaters absent
from festival

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

For the first time in its 17-year history, the Hawaii International Film Festival is without a commercial theater to show its films.

Consolidated Amusement, which has provided use of the 700-seat Varsity Theatre since the festival's beginning, is not offering the Festival's most popular venue either for free or for the $15,000 fee the organization has been paying the last two years.

Consolidated offered use of a screen in Kapolei or Pearlridge but that was rejected, in part, because of the distance from town, said Christian Gaines, festival executive director.

Consolidated president Phil Shimmin said the company could not spare the Varsity this year because of a shortage of screens in town, combined with booking demands for several major commercial films. "We're real sorry," Shimmin said. "We've had a good relationship with the festival and we feel like part of the family.

"Hopefully, we'll get back with the festival in the future, but we just couldn't do it this year."

That means the festival, which runs on Oahu Nov. 4 through 11, will not have its usual 65,000 seats available, and festival officials could not estimate how many tickets will be available this year.

Other screening sites on Oahu are the Hawai'i Theatre (1,400 seats) for 16mm and 35mm films; the Honolulu Academy of Arts, 290 seats, for 16mm and 35mm films; McCoy Pavilion, 250 seats for 16mm films and video; Wo International Center, Luke Auditorium, Punahou School, 150 seats.

To offset the loss of seats, the festival has extended the hours of viewing at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and will use the University of Hawaii Art Auditorium for the first time in years.

"The Varsity has been a landmark for the festival, a centerpiece for viewing, and a tremendously convenient venue," Gaines said. "It's the end of an era. Now we are the only film festival in the country which receives no support from local distributors."

The loss of the Varsity also means the festival will lose revenue it had expected from ticket sales. For the first time in the event's history there is a $6 charge for 35mm filmgoers, officials said, that could have amounted to more than $40,000.

Hawaii's other major chain, Wallace Theatres, which provided theaters in five of the last six years, offered a week's use of a Restaurant Row venue and one in Hilo. But the company withdrew its offer following a dispute with Gaines over the involvement this year of former festival director Jeannette Paulson.

Wallace president Scott Wallace opposed any leadership, judging or presentation role by Paulson in this year's festival because of allegedly disparaging remarks she made about the theater chain while visiting Asia a few years ago.

Wallace's requirements only applied to Paulson's role at a Wallace theater and not other venues, Scott Wallace said, adding he still wants to help the festival.

But Paulson said Wallace has no direct knowledge of any remarks she might have made about the theater chain, calling the accusations "based on hearsay."

Gaines said he has "no first-hand knowledge" in this issue and that taking sides "would be totally inappropriate," he said.

Paulson's contract with the festival as an adviser -- a nonmanagerial role -- expires this year.

'Lifeline' sneak preview set

Film audiences get a sneak preview of the upcoming Hawaii International Film Festival with the screening of "Lifeline" 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Hawaii Theatre.

In the 1997 Hong Kong film, a team of fire fighters risk their lives to save citizens from their blazing urban traps.

The film is in Cantonese with English subtitles.

Admission is $6 general; $4 for Film Society members. Members call 528-3456. General tickets are available by calling 528-0506.