On the Scene

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
LI AND XIAO HONORED 1. Gov. Linda Lingle welcomed director Xiao Guiyun, left, actress Vivian Hsu and director Li Qian Kuan to the Hawaii International Film Festival Governor's Reception Oct. 19 at Washington Place. Li and Xiao, a husband-and-wife team, received HIFF's Award for Career Achievement later that evening. The couple's latest film, "The Star and the Sea," made its world premiere at HIFF two days later with Hsu starring in a change-of-pace role as a poor woman who makes many sacrifices for her musical prodigy son.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
5. EuroCinema Hawai'i supporters Watters O. Martin, Jr. and Christy Hassell discussed the festival schedule with board members Princess Dialta Alliata di Montereale and Alice Robinson as the party was winding down.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
EUROCINEMA PARTY 4. Prince Vittorio Alliata di Montereale, second from left, welcomed Terry Hubbard, left, Nicole Naone and Dr. Alvin Chung to an informal EuroCinema Hawai'i pre-gala reception Oct. 21 at the Alliata estate in upper Makiki Heights. Prince Vittorio not only co-hosted the evening with his wife, Princess Dialta, he also prepared a delicious bowtie pasta to which he added a large tin of caviar.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
"GHOSTS" AT TAG 2. Cast member Mathias Maas, left, talked with director Brad Powell after The Actors Group production of Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts" opened Oct. 22 at the TAG Theatre. Powell not only translated the script into English but also provided all the Norwegian decor items for the set.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
SIONE'S FIRST "B-DAY" 3. Sione Jennings-Simpson, left, celebrated his first birthday with a Halloween-themed baby luau hosted by his pirate parents, David Simpson and Brittney Anelaikalani Jennings, and his big brother, Hunter, Oct. 23 at Haiku Plantation. Other members of the ohana helped out with games, contests and candy for the kids - and lots of Hawaiian and Samoan food.