First German-born delegate of the American Immigrant Filmmakers on Profile (AIFP) program: check.

First Vilcek-sponsored film screening at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF): check.

First sold-out AIFP screening at HIFF 31: check.

For the Vilcek Foundation, MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU chalked up many firsts at this year’s HIFF festival. It had a highly successful screening last night at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium. In attendance were Christoph Silber, AIFP delegate, co-writer, and co-producer; Stefan Schaefer, director, co-writer, and co-producer; and Nicole Beharie, actress.

The success of the premiere, everyone acknowledged, was owed in part to the responsive audience. The cast and crew agreed that it was an entirely different experience watching a film they had already seen many times with an audience¾hearing them laugh, gasp, and become emotionally involved with the characters in this one-day love story. Want to know what all the fuss is about?

At the Q&A session following the screening, Mr. Silber, Mr. Schaefer, and Ms. Beharie were asked some tough questions. In particular, because the film was inspired by, and loosely based on, the story of how Mr. Silber met his wife (on a subway in Brooklyn), he was asked whether he believes in fate, or just love. And Ms. Baharie, whose beautiful voice in the film so mesmerized the audience, was asked to sing, on the spot!

Stay tuned for news about the release of the five original songs in the film, written by Scott Jacoby, Stefan Schaefer, and Christoph Silber, coming on iTunes. And don’t miss the video below, in which Christoph Silber shares exclusive details on his immigration story, film career, and creative inspiration.