HIFF 2009 docs competition field

Three jurors (I was one), five documentary films (here they are)...

Blast! - A team of North American scientists lift their high-tech telescope via balloon to get a new view of the universe. Equal parts Nova and reality TV with emo scientists. From Sweden to Antarctica and across the cosmos.


Ninoy! - Mostly oral biography of the Filipino hero a.k.a. Corey Aquino's husband. Features amazing footage of an underappreciated champion of the people.


Petition - Ten years distilled into two hours, documents people in China who file complaints against their local governments, face city-hired thugs hired to beat them up in a Kafka-esque manner, and squat outside government offices for a chance to file their complaints.


Rio Breaks - Equal parts City of Children and Hoop Dreams, with a pair of children hoping to escape favella gang life through surfing. Tremendous surf footage and shockingly candid, aware children.


State of Aloha - Mix of oral history, scholarly commentary, and narrative on Hawai'i's transition from territory to statehood. Addresses controversy but lets the viewer for his or her opinion.