Waikiki, Hawaii: Outdoor Movies are a Huge Success at the Hawaii International Film Festival on Waikiki Beach

The Hawaii International Film Festival's Sunset on the Beach series holds world premieres on Waikiki Beach, screening films on a large outdoor screen with Diamond Head in the background. A premiere of the Hawaii-based film The Ride drew an estimated 15,000 attendees -- one of the largest crowds the series had attracted, according to Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Tom of the City and County of Honolulu. Restaurant vendors sold out before the evening ended.

“We knew when we first saw The Ride that Sunset on the Beach was the perfect location for its world premiere,” said HIFF executive director Chuck Boller. That year the festival featured a record 37 Hawaii-based features, documentaries, and shorts. “We hope residents and visitors alike will take the opportunity to support our local filmmakers by seeing as many Hawaii-based films as possible.”