October 4, 2026

AAPI FILMMAKERS IN FOCUS: Remembering Japanese American History

At HIFF46, AAPI FILMMAKERS IN FOCUS, presented by the Daniel K. Inouye Institute, celebrates the power of AAPI filmmakers to preserve, reclaim, and pass down histories that should never be forgotten. This special program brings together two new short films—Brian Tee’s ENOUGH and Chris Naoki Lee’s THUMBPRINT—that examine the Japanese American experience during World War

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HIFF46 SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG Celebrates The Past, Present And Future Of Hong Kong Cinema

The 46th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF46) continues its longstanding celebration of Hong Kong cinema with the SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG, presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (HKETO SF). Spanning six films, this year’s program brings together a new generation of filmmakers and performers alongside beloved

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From Cannes to Hawai‘i — Four Animated Films to Watch at HIFF46

Animation is having a landmark year, and HIFF46 brings four of the year’s most acclaimed international animated features to Hawai‘i. WE ARE ALIENS, TANGLES, IN WAVES, and IRON BOY all world premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival—part of a record year for animation on the Croisette. Now arriving at HIFF after further festival acclaim,

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THE BLOB — Come for the Gore, Stay for the Score!

On Halloween Eve—Friday, October 30—HIFF46 is kicking off Halloween weekend with something louder, stranger, and bloodier. THE BLOB: A NIGHT OF GORE & SCORE pairs Chuck Russell’s gloriously gooey 1988 horror classic with an original live score performed by Hawai‘i musician, composer, and actor Holden Mandrial-Santos, who will remix and synchronize music live to the film

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HIFF46 SPOTLIGHT ON TAIWAN: A Look Back and to the Future

HIFF’s 2026 Spotlight on Taiwan, presented by the Ministry of Culture ROC and Taiwan Academy, Los Angeles,  looks across generations of Taiwanese cinema—honoring the artists who transformed its cinematic language while celebrating a new generation carrying that legacy forward in unexpected directions. The program looks back with THAT DAY, ON THE BEACH, the landmark first

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