Maui Film Festival

Maui Film Festival
LocationMaui, Hawaii
Founded2000 (2000)
Founded byBarry Rivers
Disestablished2025
Festival dateJune, July
WebsiteOfficial website

The Maui Film Festival was a film festival founded in 2000 by Barry Rivers and held annually on the island of Maui, Hawaii through 2024.[1] It was based at Grand Wailea Resort[2][3] and included film premieres,[3] filmmaker panels,[4][3] special screenings,[3] tributes,[3] award ceremonies,[4][3] culinary arts celebrations,[4][3] and private soirees.[4][3]

Attendees of the festival through the years included Bryan Cranston,[5] Freida Pinto,[6] Connie Britton,[7] Pierce Brosnan,[8] Clint Eastwood,[9] Claire Danes,[9] Megan Fox,[9] Andrew Garfield,[9] Olivia Wilde,[9] Garrett Hedlund,[9] and filmmaker Jack McCoy.[9]

History

The festival was created by current festival director Barry Rivers,[10] who has a doctorate in electronic media arts and studied Film & Media Arts at University of Massachusetts Amherst.[11] The festival originated from a weekly screening series that Rivers began in 1997.[12]

In 2000, the festival was officially held for the first time.[10] In 2001, the festival was held from June 13 through June 17 in Wailea, Hawaii.[13]

In 2017, the 18th festival was held in Wailea and Kahului and included more than 30 film screenings.[14]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maui Film Festival was delayed.[15] In January 2021, the 70 participating films were made available online as the Speed-of-Light Virtual Cinema from January 1 through 3.[15] The festival donated all money received from the second wave of film submissions to the Maui Food Bank, resulting in a donation of over $7,000.[15]

In 2022, the in-person festival was held at the Stardust Cinema at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center from July 6 - July 10.[16] The Speed-of-Light Virtual Cinema was also available from July 6 - July 31.[16]

In 2023, the festival was held on June 28 - July 2.[17] The Speed-of-Light Virtual Cinema was also available from July 3 - July 30.[17] After the 2023 Hawaii wildfires badly affected Maui and destroyed the village of Lahaina, Rivers and his family donated to and participated in the recovery efforts.[10]

In 2025, it was announced that the film festival would not continue, making the 2024 Maui Film Festival the last.[1]

Program

The festival consisted of filmmakers submitting features and shorts which the programmers chose 50 of to be screened over the five-day program.[3] The festival also honored selected filmmakers, actors, and actresses with awards for various criteria within the film industry.[18][9][16]

The festival began with an Opening Night Twilight Reception at Grand Wailea Resort.[19]

During the 2023 festival, there were 11 local and international film premieres. From July 3 to 30, 50 short and feature films were made available to stream online.[18][17]

Venues

The festival is predominantly held at the open-air Stardust Cinema[17] at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's A&B Amphitheater.[20][18] Films are also projected onto a 50-foot screen set on the slopes of Haleakala at the Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Courses.[3][9]

On June 14, 2018, a special "Toes in the Sand Cinema" event took place at Wailea Beach in front of the Four Seasons Resort Maui, during which short films were screened.[2]

Starting in 2021,[15] online viewing was made possible by the Speed-of-Light Virtual Cinema.[15] People who could not attend in person could purchase tickets to stream films from around the world.[16][17]

Awards and honors

Lights! Camera! Passion! Award - Honors directors.[21]

Winners include:

Maverick Award - Honors actors and actresses who promote activism in protecting the Earth.

Winners include:

Navigator Award - Honors film actors and actresses for “carving a path of distinction through the turbulent waters of the entertainment industry without sacrificing their fundamental commitment to excellence”[27]

Winners include:

Nova Award - Honors film actors/actresses.

Winners include:

Pathfinder Award - Honors actors and actresses whose choices and performances encourage people to expand what it means to be human.[14]

Winners include:

  • Pierce Brosnan in 2017 (first two-time honoree at the festival also winning the Maverick Award in 2008)[14]

Rainmaker Award - Honors film artists who affect their projects, both on and off screen.

Winners include:

Rising Star Award - Honors young actors and actresses.[32]

Winners include:

Shining Star Award - Honors film actors and actresses.

Winners include:

Shooting Star Award - Honors an actor in a Maui Film Festival Hawaii Premiere.

Winners include:

Stella Award - Honors an actress for "advancing the status of women throughout the film industry by breathing life into characters that empower, enlighten and entertain."[26]

Winners include:

  • Geena Davis in 2003 (inaugural winner)[26]

Visionary Award - Honors actors and actresses.[36]

Winners include:

References

  1. ^ a b Collias, Rob (August 10, 2025). "Maui Film Festival's 25-year run is over; Wailuku Film Festival to start in 2026 with different focus". Maui Now. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "2018 Maui Film Festival 'Toes in the Sand Cinema'". mauinow.com. Maui Now. June 14, 2018. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Maui Film Festival". Maui Information Guide. May 13, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d Gunnison, Serene (March 7, 2020). "Maui Film Festival Review". Maui Guide. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  5. ^ "Maui Now Interviews Bryan Cranston at the Maui Film Festival". Maui Now. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. ^ "Freida Pinto to Receive 2017 Maui Film Festival Shining Star Award". Maui Now. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Connie Britton to Receive Navigator Award at the 2017 Maui Film Festival". Maui Now. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "Pierce Brosnan Returns to Maui: First Two-Time Honoree at Maui Film Festival". Maui Now. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Peters, Jenny (June 15, 2011). "Surfs up at Maui Film Fest". Variety. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c Romeyn, Kathryn (August 16, 2023). "Maui Film Festival Director: "We're All Doing Our Best" to Move Forward Amid Devastating Wildfires". The Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  11. ^ Ryan, Tim (June 9, 2003). "Lights! Cameras! Maui!". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  12. ^ Hueso, Noela (June 15, 2011). "Maui Film Fest Director Barry Rivers Talks Cinema (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  13. ^ "Maui Film Festival at Wailea". mauifilmfestival.com. Maui Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 4, 2000. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d McCracken, Kristin (July 7, 2017). "Pierce Brosnan Receives Maui Film Festival Pathfinder Award". HuffPost. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d e Woodhouse, Jon (December 5, 2020). "COVID-delayed film fest debuts online". The Maui News. Wailuku, Hawaii. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d Chapman, Wilson (June 27, 2022). "Christina Ricci, Lana Condor Among 2022 Maui Film Festival Honorees". Variety. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Maui Film Festival announces 2023 honorees and film slate". Maui Now. June 21, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c Shelby Mattos (June 28, 2023). "Enjoy films under the stars at the 2023 Maui Film Festival". kitv.com. KITV 4 ABC News. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Uechi, Colleen (June 13, 2019). "Maui Film Festival honors Paul Rudd on opening night". The Maui News. Maui, Hawaii. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "2023 Maui Film Festival STARDUST CINEMA". Maui Now. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  21. ^ "Olivia Wilde to Receive "Lights! Camera! Passion!" Award at Maui Film Festival". Maui Now. June 2, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  22. ^ "Olivia Wilde honored on final night of Maui Film Festival on Sunday". The Maui News. June 16, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  23. ^ a b c d Thornton, Jenn (August 19, 2019). "Paul Rudd, Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara Win Big at the 2019 Maui Film Festival". Modern Luxury. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  24. ^ Gray, Tim (May 6, 2015). "Louie Psihoyos to Be Saluted at Maui Film Fest". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  25. ^ "Veteran director claims 'defeat of substance' in Hollywood". The Guardian. June 18, 2003. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  26. ^ a b c "Celebrity Circuit". CBS News. June 17, 2003. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  27. ^ "Gina Rodriguez to Receive Navigator Award at 2019 Maui Film Festival". Maui Now. May 27, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  28. ^ Gina Rodriguez interview | Sunrise On The Road: Maui Film Festival. June 14, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2026 – via Hawaii News Now.
  29. ^ a b c "It's Gina Rodriguez's night on Thursday at the Maui Film Festival in Wailea". The Maui News. June 13, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  30. ^ "Maui Now: Maui Film Festival to Award Kirsten Dunst, Jessica Chastain". Maui Now - Maui Film Festival to Award Kirsten Dunst, Jessica Chastain. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  31. ^ Cavassuto, Maria (April 27, 2016). "Michael B. Jordan to Be Honored at Maui Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  32. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (June 5, 2017). "Maui Film Festival Announces Karen Gillan as Rising Star Award Recipient". Variety. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  33. ^ "Tribute to Garrett Hedlund". Maui Film Festival. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  34. ^ "Nick Robinson to Receive 2018 Maui Film Festival Rising Star Award". Maui Now. June 4, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  35. ^ a b Scorziello, Sophia (June 21, 2023). "Yara Shahidi and 'Flamin' Hot' Star Annie Gonzalez to Be Honored at Maui Film Festival". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  36. ^ "Maui Film Festival – News". mauifilmfestival.net. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
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