Plans are underway for an Oscar Night America viewing party and benefit for the Hawaii International Film Festival.

HIFF will host the viewing party on March 7 as a fundraiser.
Several films featured at HIFF’s 2009 fall festival have been nominated for Academy Awards this year, garnering a total of 12 Oscar nominations.
Oscar-nominated films shown at HIFF include “The Young Victoria,” which received three nominations for art direction, costume design and makeup; “Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” which received six nominations for best actress in a leading role for Gabourey Sidibe, best actress in a supporting role for Mo'Nique, director, film editing, best picture and adapted screenplay; “Miracle Fish,” which received a nomination for best live action short; and “Food, Inc.” and “Burma VJ,” each of which received a nomination for best documentary feature.
The 82nd Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 7 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and will be broadcast here in Hawaii on ABC affiliate KITV.
HIFF’s celebration in Honolulu is one of only 50 official Oscar viewing parties in cities across the country and the only official Oscar Night America party in Hawaii.
The benefit event will be held in the Monarch Ballroom at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Arrivals, cocktails and a red carpet walk begin at 4 p.m. An advanced screening of the award ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $300 to $400 ($250 to $350 for HIFF Ohana members). Tables are also available for purchase at various levels.
To purchase tickets, call 697-2463, ext. 1.
On the Web: http://www.hiff.org.