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Welcome to Hollywood International Film Academy, Inc. (HIFA Corp.), where seasoned industry professionals impart their expertise and passion to the next generation of ambitious filmmakers and digital media artists. While many institutions offer education in visual storytelling, HIFA Corp. stands out through its exceptional faculty. Our instructors are not just educators—they are accomplished artists and practitioners actively engaged in the industry, both in Hollywood and internationally. Their real-world experience goes beyond technical training and academic credentials, providing our students with unparalleled insight into the art and business of filmmaking.
Our mission extends beyond technical training. At HIFA Corp., we are committed to teaching students not only the craft of film but also how to develop stories that are inspiring and carry a positive message. We believe in the power of storytelling to contribute to a better, more peaceful world. Through their creative work, we aim to foster positive change and inspire audiences around the globe.
In addition to our educational mission, HIFA Corp. is dedicated to creating innovative real estate ventures worldwide. Our vision includes the development of HIFA hotels, beach resorts, and schools, designed to inspire creativity and foster learning in stunning, culturally rich environments around the globe.
An expert in strategic planning and a High Level Senior Minister of Finance in Cambodia. He has many business awards for “Excellence in Entrepreneurship”, and “Humanitarian Awards.
H.E. Count Eric Sokhorn is the Co-Founder, along with Mr. Ace Cruz, of the Hollywood International Film Academy (HIFA). He plays a pivotal role in advancing HIFA’s domestic and international projects under the guiding principles of:
H.E. Count Eric Sokhorn has held several prestigious positions throughout his distinguished career, including:
In addition to his governmental roles, H.E. Count Eric Sokhorn has made significant contributions in various social positions:
Throughout his career, H.E. Count Eric Sokhorn has been recognized for his dedication to Cambodia and his international contributions. His awards include:
In addition to his accolades from Cambodia, H.E. Count Eric Sokhorn has received international recognition:
Notably, his work “Fight for Life,” authored by Count Eric Sokhorn, has won five awards, including the prestigious Global Humanities Award (2016 and 2017).
Ace Cruz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and has been passionate about the film industry since the age of 13. He earned his MFA from the prestigious University of Southern California’s Cinema Television Program. Following his graduation, Ace began his career as a theater actor, later transitioning into Hollywood’s independent film scene. After a decade in front of the camera, he returned to USC to study writing, directing, and producing, further honing his craft.
In 1998, Ace founded his production company, Spirit Films, Inc., under which he produced and directed six Hollywood films. His film Outrage, starring Michael Madsen, garnered critical acclaim, winning Best Picture at the Action International Film Festival in Hollywood in 2009.
Ace’s unique blend of creative vision and business acumen has established him as a key player in Hollywood. He has collaborated with renowned actors such as Michael Madsen (Sin City, Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight), Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, Orange Is the New Black), Michael Paré (Streets of Fire), Lee Majors (Six Million Dollar Man), and Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes). Additionally, Ace has interviewed numerous high-profile celebrities, including Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Bruce Dern, Muhammad Ali, David Foster, Robert Kennedy Jr., Arnel Pineda, Kenny G, and Neal Schon, on his YouTube channel, Hollywoodceleb.tv.
Dedicated to creating films that are not only entertaining and commercial but also inspiring, Ace has spent over 20 years attending the American Film Market and Cannes Film Festival. His commitment to understanding the psychology of global audiences has played a crucial role in his success. This dedication has culminated in his co-founding of the Hollywood International Film Academy, Inc., where he continues to shape the future of cinema.
Alan served as a Senior Financial Executive at Paramount Pictures for 35 years, including his role as Senior Vice President and Treasurer from 1974 to 2009. During his tenure, Alan was responsible for Paramount’s global financial management. He played a crucial role in closing deals with investors interested in Paramount’s motion pictures, and oversaw various financial operations, including internal audit and compliance, international finance and accounting, tax planning, compliance and reporting, maximizing production tax incentives and subsidies, and emergency preparedness planning.
Since 2009, Alan has been providing his expertise as a "virtual" CFO to several emerging and startup publicly traded (OTC) companies. He has deep experience with SEC reporting (including 10-Ks and 10-Qs), reverse mergers and acquisitions, OTC Pink Sheet alternative reporting, and preparing business plans. His skills also extend to financial accounting and reporting, S-1 filings, Regulation D (504) and Regulation A filings, business modeling, and budgeting.
In addition to his financial career, Alan has made significant contributions to the film industry. He founded and executive produced several film festivals, including the Movieville International Film Festival, the Action on Film Festival, the Asian American International Film Festival, and HopeFest, a Christian-themed film festival. He also serves as the executive producer of family-friendly, lower-budget, high-quality motion pictures, digital and television content, and writes treatments and scripts for movie and TV projects.
Alan’s entrepreneurial ventures in Asia include serving as the CFO of Hollywood Entertainment EDU, which specializes in placing high-achieving Chinese film students with top educational institutions and film schools in the United States. He is also the CFO of RPB Company Inc., a firm focused on commodity trading with businesses in China. Alan mentors and lectures Chinese film students and is the co-founder and co-chairman of the Hollywood Short Film Association, which supports, produces, and distributes micro-films (content with a running time of less than 30 minutes) worldwide.
Alan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Fellow of the Institute of UK Chartered Accountants. He is an alumnus of the public accounting firms Ernst & Young and Grant Thornton.
Michael Madsen is an American actor, producer, director, writer, poet, and photographer, widely recognized for his versatile and intense screen presence. His first major film role came in Thelma & Louise (1991), but he is best known for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, particularly for his iconic portrayal of Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (1992). Madsen also memorably portrayed Budd in both segments of Kill Bill (2003 and 2004) and appeared in The Hateful Eight (2015) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). His career is marked by playing characters described as "charming, careless, terrifying bastards," and he has starred in numerous feature films and television series.
In Reservoir Dogs, Madsen played Mr. Blonde, a ruthless mobster in Tarantino’s directorial debut. Although he initially sought the role of Mr. Pink, which ultimately went to Steve Buscemi, Madsen’s performance as Mr. Blonde became legendary. He was later considered for the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with Wyatt Earp. The role went to John Travolta. Madsen’s other notable roles include starring in Mike Newell’s gangster film Donnie Brasco (1997). Reflecting on his career, Madsen has noted the necessity of accepting certain roles to support his family, despite their varying quality, explaining, "Some of them I'm only in for 10 minutes, but they bought my name, and they bought my face to put on the DVD box with a gun."
In Kill Bill, Madsen played Budd, an assassin and the brother of Bill (David Carradine), with the film released in two parts, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Tarantino once considered a spin-off film uniting Madsen and Travolta as "The Vega Brothers," but the project was eventually shelved due to the actors’ ages and the characters’ on-screen deaths.
Madsen has had a diverse career beyond his work with Tarantino. He appeared in Uwe Boll’s BloodRayne, a film he later described as "an abomination." However, his performance in Strength and Honour earned him Best Actor awards at the Boston Film Festival and the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. He also starred as himself in the mockumentary Being Michael Madsen and co-starred in the web series Coma on Crackle.
On television, Madsen played Jim Ricker, a close friend of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), in the eighth season of 24 and starred in the comedy Let the Game Begin. He also participated in Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, finishing in 4th place. In 2014, he portrayed Las Vegas casino mogul Ted Binion in Death in the Desert, based on the book by crime writer Cathy Scott. That same year, he appeared in the Kill Bill-themed music video for "Black Widow" by Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora.
Madsen starred in Tarantino’s ensemble western The Hateful Eight (2015), a film that was almost not made due to a leaked script, though Madsen was later cleared of any involvement in the leak. In 2016, he portrayed former Texas Ranger Phil Ryan in Real Detective on the Investigation Discovery network.
In 2019, Madsen served as Executive Producer for The Dirty Kind, a crime drama loosely inspired by the story of Anthony Weiner, further showcasing his ability to influence and shape film projects behind the scenes.
Michael Paré is an American actor known for his rugged charm and memorable performances across film and television. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Paré is the son of Joan, a homemaker, and Francis Paré, who owned print shops. He grew up in a large family with six sisters and three brothers. Tragically, his father passed away from leukemia when Paré was just five years old, leaving his mother to raise their nine children. Before his acting career, Paré worked as a chef in New York City, where a chance encounter with talent agent Yvette Bikoff convinced him to pursue acting.
Paré's first starring role came as Tony Villicana on the television series The Greatest American Hero. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Eddie Wilson in Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) and its sequel Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989), as well as his performances in Streets of Fire (1984) and The Philadelphia Experiment (1984). In 2012, Paré appeared in the remake of The Philadelphia Experiment, revisiting the sci-fi classic that helped define his early career. His filmography also includes Moon 44 (1990), Village of the Damned (1995), Bad Moon (1996), Hope Floats (1998), and The Virgin Suicides (1999).
Paré's portrayal of Tom Cody in Road to Hell earned him the Best Actor award at the PollyGrind Film Festival, further solidifying his status as a cult film icon. On television, he starred alongside Michael Beck in the CBS police drama Houston Knights (1987–1988) and led the short-lived 2001 science fiction series Starhunter. Paré is also known for his frequent collaborations with director Uwe Boll, appearing in several of Boll's films.
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