iPhoto 9.5.1 - Hangs on any movie file import - crashes -help!

I will try to rebuild the whole library.

That's only necessary if the new test library imports and plays those videos satisfactorily.

As a test I created a new Library tried to import all the 670 video files (all unlocked) but 234 failed (80% .mov, 15% .mpg and 5% .avi). The error message said "Unreadable files: 234. Some itens could not be imported. The files are in an unrecognized format." (free translation) And a list of files is presented.

I am experiencing the same exact problem. I'm on Mavericks 10.9.5, and it's only when importing video that I get this problem - iPhoto beach balls and it can't import even one single video. I also have tried rebuilding/repairing the database, creating a new iPhoto test library, and even reinstalling iPhoto. none of which has worked.

All my movies are quicktimes. none of them appear as 'locked', and they all play just fine in the desktop. I do not have flip4Mac installed. I don't know why I've suddenly started experiencing this issue, as I haven't installed or changed anything on my mac in quite sometime, and I used to never have an issue with iPhoto.

Do you guys have any other suggestions?

Launch Console and watch it when you try import a movie.

Are any messages written to it?

I just tried and here's the message that comes up in the log:

7/16/15 11:14:46.630 AM com.apple.qtkit[10577]: [10577] stack overflow

7/16/15 11:14:46.867 AM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice[10577]) Job appears to have crashed: Abort trap: 6

7/16/15 11:14:46.867 AM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.qtkittrustedmoviesservice) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

then this just keeps repeating over and over...

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down), select Disk Utility and repair both the disk permissions and the disk. Reboot normally and try again.

just tried that. didn't change anything. still beach balls when importing any video.

Have you tried logging into another user account on your Mac and testing to see if you can import those video files into a library there? If you an then the issue is limited to your user account.

If you can't then it's a system wide issue and may require a reinstall of the system via the Recovery volume.

yea I tried that as well. Created another account and tried importing video into iPhoto through that, and the result was the same.

reinstall the entire system? that's pretty heavy. and i just did that like 3 months ago. thanks a lot iPhoto...

Before trying the reinstall described below download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

It's really quite easy with Mavericks. Just boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and select Reinstall OS X.

Only the system files are replaced. Your personal files in your account will not be affected. You've tried all of the "fixes" and diagnostic tests that we normally try so this is the only thing we haven't tried. I would, however, make sure you do have a current backup of your HD and after the reinstall boot into the Recover volume again and repair the disk permissions and disk again.

ok, so none of my account settings, personal files, applications, or any of that type stuff will be wiped when i do it this way?

Correct. However, as with any major install or repair be sure to have a current backup. It's just prudent to do so. As Forrest once said: "It happens".

so get this - i just did a reinstall of Mavericks, and the same thing is still happening with iPhoto! How could that be? It must mean that the problem is coming from something non OS related, right?

The next step to try is to reinstall the iPhoto application.