Katniss Everdeen
Katniss is the protagonist of the film. Her name derives from Sagittarius the archer, which means "he who throws arrows" in Latin. Katniss's greatest skill is her archery. Katniss lives with her family in District 12, which is the poorest district in Penem. She volunteers to replace her sister Primrose as the tribute representing the district and proves to be a courageous and able competitor. She forges alliances based on her gut feeling about a person rather than on their skills and consequently teams up with a competitor called Rue because she reminds her of her sister.
She is knowledgeable about hunting, and archery and uses both of these talents as a means of survival. Katniss is somewhat of a rebel and she suggests to Peeta, her fellow District 12 representative, that instead of fighting each other to the death they should both die at their own hand by eating poisonous berries. At the last minute, her gamble pays off and the organizers decide to declare both the winner but in her defiance she has made many enemies.
Peeta Mellark
Peeta is the male tribute representing District 12, and he has serious feelings for Katniss. He wants to sacrifice himself for her at the start of the Games, and at the end, but during the initial stages makes some unwise alliances with other competitors. He nearly dies a couple of times but manages to claw his way back to health and to the Games.
Peeta is a charming and sophisticated young man, with a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh at himself. He refuses to play the Capitol's game and remains resolute and strong of mind throughout.
Haymitch Abernathy
Abernathy holds the honor of having been the only winner of the Games to represent District 12 and consequently acts as a mentor to subsequent tributes. He won the Games almost a quarter of a century previously, and has rather let himself go physically and emotionally, having spent much of the last twenty four years as an alcoholic. He hates the Games, despite his success in them, and he feels a terrible guilt about having to encourage young people to participate in them.
President Coriolanus Snow
Snow is the dictatorial ruler of Panem and he is a psychopath, despite his statesmanlike demeanor. His role in the story is that of antagonist by virtue of the fact that he presides over the Games and clearly hopes for bloodshed, but he is not a particularly direct participant in the plot. He opens the Games and is present at the startline, and he also reappears at the end to complain about the way in which the competitors have been able to direct the way the Games finishes. He is clearly a very vindictive man and it becomes clear that he is going to want to get his revenge when it comes to Peeta and Katniss and the defiance they have publicly exhibited.
Effie Trinkett
Effie is a chaperone who works for the Games. She oversees the tributes from District 12. She does not like that she was assigned District 12 because she hails from the Capitol and feels that District 12 is in some way beneath her but she gradually becomes attached to her young charges.
Effie is not the sharpest knife in the drawer by any means but does prioritize her outward appearance over her inward development.
Cinna
As Katniss's stylist, Cinna is in charge of her public appearances. He designs spectacular outfits for her to wear at the opening ceremony. This is the first year in which he has been a stylist for the Games, and he wanted to be assigned to District 12. His designs are so admired that they gain considerable support for Katniss and Peeta. He likes Katniss and their relationship is surprisingly relaxed given the situation they are in. He is a rebel and uses his designs whenever possible to support rebellion and defiance.
Seneca Crane
Crane is the Head Gamemaker and is easily swayed by public opinion; he introduces a change in the rules that says two contestants can win the Games if they happen to come from the same District. He later goes back on this as Katniss and Peeta get ready to celebrate together. When it becomes clear that they are going to defy the Capitol and kill themselves together instead of being pitted against each other, he again confirms that they are both the victors. This does not sit well with Coriolanus Snow, who feels that he let the running of the Games get away from him.
