For all the buzz "Barbarian Princess" is receiving for its controversial title, it may not be the most anticipated show screening at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

And that says a lot for "Precious," screening Oct. 22 at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas.

While the name of the film chronicling Princess Ka'iulani's life and impact — making its world premiere next Friday (Oct. 16) at Hawai'i Theatre — has generated debate, there is even more buzz surrounding "Precious," due to one heavy hitter's endorsement: Oprah Winfrey, who has called the film this generation's "The Color Purple." The film also recently won the audience award at the Toronto Film Festival.

"There are so many good films to talk about," HIFF executive director Chuck Boller said. "Next year's our 30th anniversary, but this one will be tough to beat."

HIFF opens Thursday and runs through Oct. 25. All films, except for "Barbarian Princess" screen at Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas.

Among the 177 films from 36 countries (and in 27 different languages, all with subtitles) are 14 world premieres. Director John Woo returns with the war epic "Red Cliff," and Thursday's opening film is an intense Korean thriller, "Mother Madeo," which follows a mother's drive to clear her mentally challenged son of murder charges.

This year's HIFF also includes a chance to get to know the people behind "Lost" at a gala event and at master classes on Saturday, Oct. 24. Fans of "Departures" — voted the best foreign film last year and still showing at Kahala 8 — will be happy to know the creative team behind that hit is back with "Snow Prince."

HIFF is showing 23 films a day. To help make it less overwhelming, we asked HIFF programming director Anderson Le to offer daily picks. Lee stayed away from some of the more notable movies like "Precious," and we used four categories for his daily recommendations:

FAM: Family-friendly
DATE: Date movies
GUY: Guy movies
F4T: Film for thought

For the complete synopses and schedules of each film, go to Hiff.org. Some films show more than once.

THURSDAY

OPENING NIGHT FILM: F4T: "Mother Madeo," 8 p.m., 128 minutes

Le's take: "This is a fantastic Korean thriller that totally translates for a U.S. audience. It's directed by Bong Joon-ho, one of the best in Korea. It's all about a mother trying to clear her mentally challenged son of murder. Very gripping and engaging."

FAM: "Strength of Water," 8:30 p.m., 86 minutes

Le's take: "It's a New Zealand film that will remind people of 'Whale Rider.' It's a coming-of-age show that follows two kids, twins, who are abandoned. It got a lot of buzz at the Cannes Film Festival."

GUY: "Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl," 10:30 p.m., 85 minutes

Le's take: "A Japanese slasher movie, and it is crazy. Very Japanese, where it's not laugh-out-loud funny, but funny and very gory. So if you like vampire movies and blood, this is definitely original and one to check out."

F4T: "Girl On The Train," 10:30 p.m., 86 minutes

Le's take: "It's set in France, and it deals with the psychological circumstances surrounding a lie that stirs up a national uproar."

OCT. 16

F4T: "Rashomon," 6:15 p.m., 88 minutes

Le's take: "An older, classic black-and-white film from Japan that's part of HIFF's tribute to the late Madame Kashiko Kawakita. She was a key figure in bringing Japanese cinema to the U.S. The film itself is considered one of director Akira Kurosawa's masterpieces. Something interesting is that Donald Richie, regarded as one of the top film critics of Japanese cinema, is going to lead a discussion after screening this film."

FAM: "The Harimaya Bridge" 6:30 p.m., 86 minutes

Le's take: "Danny Glover produced it and stars as an American dad whose father was a tortured prisoner of World War II. He grew up a racist and he's kind of like Clint Eastwood in 'Gran Torino.' In this one, it's worse because his son goes against his wishes and moves to Japan to teach English. They stop speaking for years. Then he gets a call that his son died in an accident and he has to go to Japan to get the body. He ends up piecing together his son's life and rethinking his own beliefs."

WORLD PREMIERE

F4T: "Barbarian Princess," 8 p.m., Hawai'i Theatre, 130 minutes

Synopsis: This film about Princess Ka'iulani — the only movie being screened at Hawai'i Theatre — has sparked controversy over its name.

Set in 1888, Hawai'i is a paradise on the brink of civil unrest under the malevolent influence of a rebel party with links to the American government.

The tide has turned against the long-incumbent royal family, among whom is the beautiful Princess Ka'iulani. Scarcely 13 years old, she is separated from her family and homeland and sent to a place that couldn't be more different from Hawai'i — Victorian England. Coming to terms with her fate, Ka'iulani undergoes a harsh education that equips her with a sense of duty and honor.

What's more, she falls in love with a spirited young Englishman. Emerging from childhood and inspired by blossoming romance, Ka'iulani realizes she must end the injustices suffered by her people. She sets off to meet President Grover Cleveland to prove that she and her people are not the "barbarians" portrayed by the American press. Based on the true story.

DATE: "If I Knew What You Said," 8:30 p.m., 88 minutes

Le's take: "This one got great buzz at The Toronto Film Festival. What I like is it's not your typical Filipino movie. It shows middle- class kids in a love story. It also won the Audience Choice Award at the 2009 Cinemalaya. I loved it."

GUY: "District 13 Ultimatum," 9:15 p.m., 101 minutes

Le's take: "A sequel of the original French film, and it features parkour martial arts. The city is like a jungle gym for these guys. They jump off buildings, climb walls. Lots of action."

OCT. 17

DATE: "April Bride," 12:45 p.m., 129 minutes

Le's take: "This was a No. 1 box-office draw in Japan. It's based on the true story of Chie Nagashima, the subject of a 2007 news report and Japanese documentary."

F4T: "Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight," 8:30 p.m., 73 minutes

Le's take: "Glaser was a Renaissance man best known for founding New York magazine. Nice guy. Great at his craft."

FAM: "Amreeka," 8:45 p.m., 96 minutes

Le's take: "Really funny movie that's going to repeat at Kahala 8 in a few weeks. It's about a single mom who leaves the West Bank (Middle East) with her son, and they move to Illinois. They end up working at a White Castle together. The whole family will enjoy it."

GUY: "Merantau," 9:45 p.m., 106 minutes

Le's take: "This is one of the first martial arts movies from Indonesia in like, 50 years. It features the silat discipline, and guys will love it because it's full of action. The main character is basically on a walkabout, and he ends up defending orphans from a human trafficking ring. It's intense."

OCT. 18

FAM: "Under the Mountain," 12:15 p.m., 91 minutes

Le's take: "It's based on a children's book and it's similar to 'Witch Mountain,' but with more chills and laughs. It's a New Zealand movie that will be picked up by a major distributor."

DATE: "The People I've Slept With," 3 p.m., 89 minutes

Le's take: "This is the world premiere, and it is going to get a lot of attention. It's about a young, promiscuous woman who makes baseball cards about her lovers so she can remember facts about them. Then she gets pregnant and has to go back to the last few guys she's slept with to figure out the father. Very funny."

F4T: "Shorts No. 6," 8:30 p.m., 75 minutes

Le's take: "This has a lot of local appeal. It's two films, one is the world premiere of 'The Lychee Thieves,' four characters on O'ahu who clash over a lychee tree. The director is Kathleen Man, a Punahou grad. The other is 'A Song For Ourselves,' which follows the life and music of Asian American Movement troubadour Chris Iijima."

GUY: "A Million," 8:30 p.m., 73 minutes

Le's take: "This is basically 'Survivor,' but losers die. As more get killed, the stakes get higher and the contestants figure out what's going on. You have to outsmart and outkill your fellow competitors."

OCT. 19

FAM: "Blast!," 5:15 p.m., 74 minutes

Le's take: "A documentary about a team of rag-tag scientists who try to take a hot air balloon back in time. It's set in Antarctica. It's just very interesting."

F4T: "Storm," 6 p.m., 110 minutes

Le's take: "An international war crime movie. After the film, there will be a discussion with two law professors from the University of Hawai'i and one from Cal-Berkeley who specializes in war crimes."

GUY: "More Than A Game," 6:30 p.m., 105 minutes

Le's take: "This is the LeBron James documentary that's opening on the Mainland. It's won't be in theaters here till the end of October. I think it's an awesome film."

DATE: "White on Rice," 7:30 p.m., 105 minutes

Le's take: "Hilarious! A 40-year-old divorced guy shares a bed with his 10-year-old nephew at his sister's house. Kind of 'Napoleon Dynamite'-ish. He's a total loser who doesn't seem to realize it. It's all about relationships and how family deals with one another."

OCT. 20

FAM: "The Eagle Hunter's Son," 4:15 p.m., 97 minutes

Le's take: "It's set in a village in Mongolia, and it's about a son who would rather go to the urban city than follow in his father's footsteps as an eagle hunter. It really looks at traditions and family values."

F4T: "9500 Liberty," 6:30 p.m., 73 minutes

Le's take: Eric Byler, one of the directors, is a Moanalua grad, who also spent time growing up in Virginia. This a documentary about Prince William County in Virginia, where the city government passed a resolution that basically allows for racial profiling. It's really fueled the immigration debate."

DATE: "Snow Prince," 6:45 p.m., 115 minutes

Le's take: "This is the movie's world premiere, and all you really have to know is this is from the creative team behind 'Departures,' which won an Oscar for best foreign film and is still playing at Kahala. It's going to create a lot of buzz."

GUY: "Invisible Killer," 9:30 p.m., 96 minutes

Le's take: "The Internet Crime Division in China pursues a killer who leaves clues on the Internet. This played at the Shanghai Film Festival and was well-received."

OCT. 21

FAM: "Flavor of Happiness," 6 p.m., 124 minutes

Le's take: "Foodies will love this one. It's shot in Japan about a young woman who discovers this great hole-in-the-wall restaurant, but the owner is going to close for health reasons. She begs him to teach her his secrets. It's a 'Karate Kid' movie, but with food."

F4T: "Last Beekeeper," 6:30 p.m., 67 minutes

Le's take: "It's a documentary about global warming and bees being erased from the face of the Earth and how devastating the ripple effect would be if it happens. With the problems with bee mites on the Big Island, this hits home. Also, Whole Foods is going to do honey tastings after the show."

DATE: "Dance Subaru!," 6:30 p.m., 105 minutes

Le's take: "It's the U.S. premiere. Set in Japan, it follows a young ballerina's struggles. Great soundtrack and dancing."

GUY: "The Drifter," 8:15 p.m., 60 minutes5

Le's take: "Another documentary, but this one is about surfer Rob Machado going on a soul-searching trip to Indonesia. It's not your typical surf movie. Rob is going to be there to talk with the audience and do a Q&A after the show."

OCT. 22

F4T: "Whatever It Takes," 2:30 p.m., 92 minutes

Le's take: "It's 'The Principal,' but the true story of a tough principal at a school in the Bronx. Everyone should see it."

FAM: "Saving Luna," 4:45 p.m., 93 minutes

Le's take: "It's another documentary, but it's really cool. It's about a small orca who kind of adopts or is adopted by a small community in the Vancouver Islands. The people fall in love with him, but the government keeps trying to keep them apart and take him away. He keeps coming back."

GUY: "Love Exposure," 6:15 p.m., 337 minutes

Le's take: "Movies like this are why festivals exist. It's nearly four hours long, but is a really crazy, intense movie. It's about a Japanese boy whose father is a Catholic priest and has a sick perversion with wanting his son to confess, even though's he's good. His dad keeps wanting him to commit worse and worse sins."

DATE: "Castaway on the Moon," 9:15 p.m., 115 minutes

Le's take: "This just played at the Toronto Film Fest and is about two lonely souls finding each other after the man tries to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge and into a river. He survived, and when he washes up on shore and starts to put his life together, he notices a girl in a room has been watching him. She hadn't left the room in three years, and they become fascinated with each other."

OCT. 23

F4T: "Ingredients," 6 p.m., 66 minutes

Le's take: "This is like 'Food Inc.,' but with a local angle. It looks at chefs and farmers all over the country and the benefits of eating local. Robert Bates directs.

GUY: "White Thunder Glacier Surfing," 6:30 p.m., 75 minutes

Le's take: "Its a cool surf documentary similar to what Don Brown did with 'Step Into Liquid,' but in this one, the surfers go to Alaska and wait for glaciers to bust off and create huge waves. They get towed in and ride them. It's a quest to ride monster waves."

FAM: ACM Night, 7:45 p.m.

Le's take: "All these movies are from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Academy of Creative Media, and all are family- friendly. It's a good way to support local filmmakers, and all seem to have a moral lesson."

DATE: "Cobalt Blue," 8:15 p.m., 119 minutes

Le's take: "It's a big date movie and a touching story that did well in Japan. It's about a fatally ill piano artist who falls in love with a fisherman on a remote island. She dies after having their daughter and you watch her grow. It's emotional."

OCT. 24

FAM: "Mai Mai Miracle," 3 p.m., 95 minutes

Le's take: "Japanese anime from the writer of 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time." It's a fantasy story about an elementary school student who loves to daydream about the world of 1,000 years ago and is one day mysteriously taken back. It's a very family-friendly movie."

DATE: "Dil Bole Hadippa!," 3:30 p.m., 150 minutes

Le's take: "This is one of three Bollywood movies we have at HIFF and it was a big hit in India. It's kind of like 'Bend It Like Beckham,' but with cricket instead of soccer, and there's dancing."

F4T: "Air Doll," 10 p.m. 125 minutes

Le's take: "This is Japan's version of 'Mannequin,' only it's a blow-up sex doll that comes to life. It just premiered at Cannes Film Festival and got great reviews. The air doll is a beautiful woman, Korean actress Bae Doona, and it's kind of a look at the world through the eyes of innocence."

GUY: "Beast Stalker," 10:30 p.m., 110 minutes

Le's take: "This is shot in Hong Kong, and it's a hostage movie. Really good. It has to do with a mobster mistakenly killing one of the twins of the attorney prosecuting his boss. The other daughter is kidnapped and the mobster tries to get her back. It's got a lot of suspense and action. Maybe a little like 'Ransom.'"

OCT. 25

The lineup won't be announced until the awards are given out, but this is the final chance to catch some of these movies a second time around.