Local News

Maui Film Festival premieres

FIRST PHOTO: Legendary surfer Gerry Lopez (right) receives the Maui Film Festival's Visionary Award from festival founder Barry Rivers at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Wednesday evening. The award honored Lopez's "long-standing commitment to inspire and nurture the endlessly evolving tapestry of global cultures into an ever more compassionate and life-affirming planetary community."

SECOND PHOTO: Award-winning documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta accepts the Rainmaker Award from Rivers Wednesday evening. His latest film, "The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez," is premiering at the festival.

THIRD PHOTO: North Shore jungle dweller and mathematician Michael Behrens poses with the Maui Film Festival's Free Spirit Award after receiving it on the festival's opening night Wednesday at the MACC. Behrens was featured in the documentary "The Art of Life," which was shown Wednesday.