Jetsettersblog

Big Island Film Festival is proud to announce that John Cruz and his heart-strumming slack key will take the stage for “Best of the Fest,” Sunday, May 16, 2010.

ISLAND OF HAWAII — Music and movie magic go hand in hand in Hawaii, and the Big Island Film Festival is proud to announce that John Cruz and his heart-strumming slack key will take the stage for “Best of the Fest,” Sunday, May 16, 2010.

A lifetime Hawaiian musician from Palolo Valley on Oahu, Cruz serenaded four galas during President Obama’s inauguration. Acclaimed by Hawaii Magazine as 2008′s Best Singer Songwriter for his premiere CD, Cruz’s second album, “One of These Days” hit #1 in Hawaii, #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart for the Pacific Region and #6 on the Billboard World Chart and won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Contemporary Album of the Year.

Cruz is the official spokesman for Sprint Hawaii’s Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation which donates free ukuleles to school music programs in need. He visits classrooms and gives surprise performances to inspire kids to achieve and believe in themselves.

No stranger to the big screen, Cruz is the subject of the documentary film “Made of Music – The Story of John Cruz,” which debuted at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu, and was honored with the Aloha Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Molokai Film Festival. Jack Johnson, Jackson Browne, Kelly Slater and Jake Shimabukuro add color and insight to an already powerful story.

The Big Island “Talk Story” Film Festival takes place May 12-16, 2010 at Mauna Lani Resort, “on location” in two luxury hotels, retail shopping center and restaurants. Rated one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine, the 5th annual BIFF is a celebration of independent filmmaking with movies, special events, Hawaiian culture and music, all embraced by the spirit of Aloha, to help it grow into a premier event to share with the world.

Mauna Lani Resort will offer accommodations at two ocean front luxury resorts, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, along with unparalleled shopping at The Shops at Mauna Lani.

For information or to purchase tickets online, visit http://www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com.  (Please befriend our Facebook Fan Page and follow @BigIslandFilm on Twitter.)

LINKS
http://www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com
http://www.JohnCruz.com
http://www.MaunaLani.com
http://www.Fairmont.com/Orchid
http://www.ShopsAtMaunaLani.com

For tickets and information visit http://www.BigIslandFilmFestival.com