The 34th edition of Hawaii International Film Festival will kick off from today, and this year, the festival will be lined up with nearly 200 diverse movies from different corners of the world. The first phase of the festival will be conducted from October 30th to Nov ember 9th on Oahu, and the second phase will begin from November 13th – 16th on Hawaii Island and Kauai. The HIFF is widely considered as the largest independent film festival which screens films from Hawaii, Asia and the Pacific region.

The 2014 edition of Hawaii International Film Festival will feature 198 films from 45 countries. The film festival will kick off with the US premiere of ‘The Vancouver Asahi’. The film is all about a base ball team that played in Canada during 1930s. The film will be also screened on November 13th in Hilo.

The closing night of the film will feature the world premiere of Visions in the Dark: The Life of Pinky Thompson. The documentary showcases the life of renowned Hawaiian community leader, Myron B. “Pinky” Thompson. The festival will also conduct an acting workshop with Marcia Gay Harden on November 1st.