One of the best things about living in Hawaii is being in close proximity to the fabulous Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (or LVHIFF). Of course, even for those who don't live nearby, it's a terrific reason to come visit for two weeks! LVHIFF first launched in 1981 courtesy of the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii as an attempt to bridge cultural gaps between different countries. Today, it is one of the largest and most well-respected film festivals in the world. This year’s 25th anniversary program--which runs from October 19 through October 29 in venues around Oahu--is an especially strong one, with stellar cinema from every continent. The 2006 festival’s opening film is Babel--directed by the enormously talented Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams) and starring such Hollywood heavy-hitters as Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Gael Garcia Bernal. The film details the unexpectedly intertwined lives of characters whose different languages and cultures keep them from truly understanding one another. Of course, the LVHIFF also features plenty of smaller, independent movies, including those of local filmmakers (which are showcased in the Hawaii Panorama series). No matter what your cinematic tastes may be, you’ll find something worth watching. Buy tickets in person (LVHIFF Box Office – 680 Iwilei Rd., Honolulu, HI 96817; 11 AM-6 PM), by phone (808-550-8457) or fax (808-536-2707) , or online. There's also a full schedule of concerts and other events built around the LVHIFF, which you can read about on the festival's blog. See you there!

—, 10/18/06