The Maui Film Festival — four days and five nights of movies, celebratory tributes, panel discussions and culinary events — begins today.

The film fest is presenting its 2006 Galaxy Award to Joan Allen, a three-time Oscar nominee whose recent films include "The Upside of Anger." A Shining Star Award goes to Jessica Biel (TV's "Seventh Heaven"), who is currently shooting "Home of the Brave" with Samuel L. Jackson. The Pathfinder Award goes to Patricia Clarkson ("Pieces of April," "The Station Agent"), and the Navigator Award goes to John C. Reilly ("A Prairie Home Companion," "Chicago"). Michelle Yeoh ("Memoirs of a Geisha") is scheduled to attend.

Opening-day highlights include the films "Peaceful Warrior" (8 p.m., $20) and "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" (10 p.m.) at the Wailea Resort's Celestial Cinema under the stars; "Wordplay" (5 p.m.) and "Half Nelson" (7:30 p.m.) at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater; and "Benigno: Farewell to a Revolution" and "Beyond the Call" (5 p.m.) and "A Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus" (7:30 p.m.) at MACC's McCoy Theatre.

Tomorrow's features include "The Lake House" (8 p.m., $20) and "Water" (10 p.m.) at Wailea; "The Heart of the Game" (5 p.m.) and "Accepted" (7:30 p.m.) at Castle; and "Rose" and "Black Gold" (5 p.m.) and "Before the Music Dies" (7:30 p.m.) at McCoy.

Many other films will be screened throughout the festival, which continues through Sunday. More information will be listed in Friday's TGIF section.

Tickets are $10, except as noted above. Details are at www.mauifilmfestival.com.