HONOLULU - Special pre-sale tickets for the 28th annual Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) will go on sale today to HIFF members and sponsors.

Known as the premier international film event in the Pacific, HIFF features acclaimed and award-winning international films, with many world and U.S. premieres, according to a news release from the sponsors.

HIFF's 2008 program is being held at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas from Oct. 9 - 19. Member tickets are available for purchase in person at HIFF's box office at Dole, by phone at the Honolulu Box Office at 550-8457(TIKS), by fax at 536-2707, or online at www.hiff.org. General admission tickets go on sale to the public next Friday, Sept. 26, for $10 or $9 for students, seniors, children and military.

The year's lineup of 150 films comes from over 36 countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Syria,Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.

Among those films being showcased is the Korean-style Western and #1box office hit from Korea THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, directed by Kim Jee-Woon and starring mega-Korean star Jung Woo-Sung who will be attending the festival this year. The Festival's centerpiece film is acclaimed docu-drama RAIN OF THE CHILDREN from New Zealand director Vincent Ward.