HIFF 2009 / The folks at the Hawaii Independent Film Festival gave us a peek at a variety of offerings this year. Here are a few more.

9500 Liberty

(Tues 10/20 & Fri 10/23)

Local-born Eric Byler (director of the amazing Charlotte Sometimes) and girlfriend Annabel Lee’s disturbing documentary on the rampant racism in Prince William County, Va. The footage of locals practically hurling unabashed derogatory remarks against the Spanish community in the area is downright shocking. The film isn’t as tight as it should be, but it’s still very much worth seeing simply to face the existence of vile ignorance, hate and prejudice.

24K

(Mon 10/19 & Wed 10/21)

Rumors of treasure left behind by the Japanese after their occupation of the Philippines persist till this day, and 24K is the true story fortune hunters seeking to find these buried spoils of war. The film offers some scenic views of Filipino landscapes and detailed instances of ethnic culture, but not much really happens here. Those hoping for National Treasure-style adventure will be disappointed, but the strong, local Fil-Am crowd will probably eat this up. (Beware PETA devotees, for divination purposes, chickens may have been graphically harmed to make this movie. Either that or it’s a very convincing special effect.)

Died Young, Stayed Pretty

(Fri 10/23 & Sat 10/24)

Punk fans (and music enthusiasts in general) won’t want to miss this documentary on the lost art of rock posters. Director Eileen Yaghoobian makes a strong case for these posters to exist as more than advertising tools for the music industry as she follows renegade graphic artists with a raw sensibility that can only be described as true punk. In an age where everything is iTunes digital, tangible music art is almost extinct. This film makes one nostalgic for what is fast becoming the good old days of modern pop culture.

The Eagle Hunter’s Son

(Tues 10/20 & Wed 10/21)

12-year-old Bazarbai gets the itch to spread his wings out of his quaint Western Mongolian village existence. When his father’s pet eagle flies away, the boy goes after it, heading toward the urban city of Ulan Bator–the very place he’s always wanted to see. Everything is filmed on an epic, snow-laden scale and the film has powerful yet subtle messages on tradition, nature and loyalty. This is definitely one of the festival’s highlights.

Vampire Girl vs.
Frankenstein Girl

(Thurs 10/15 & Fri 10/16)

With a title like that, you pretty much know what you’re getting here. From the folks that brought you Tokyo Gore Police, comes the tale of Monami, a teenage vampire who falls for a dreamy high school boy. Keiko also likes the boy and a grand-scale cat fight ensues. Since Keiko isn’t a vampire, of course, she’s dead meat from the get-go. But, Keiko’s father is a mad scientist with a talent for re-animating corpses and…well…it’s a battle between the glorious ladies of the undead. Art-snobs should stay far away, but fans of the Japanese midnight gross-out will not want to miss this one.