The HIFF ONLINE CREATORS & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program, powered by Critical Minded, supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai‘i through mentorship and paid career opportunities. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific region and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in Hawai’i, not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Officially launched in 2022, HOCCI is a reimagining of the former Roger Ebert Young Critics Initiative.
The 2024 HOCCI supports Hawai‘i-based AANHPI critics to be a part of the HIFF44 press cohort to cover films, panels, or filmmakers at this year’s Fall Festival. This year, for its third iteration, we are excited to introduce ten brand new participants who will receive mentorship workshops hosted by established film critics and industry professionals. These mentors include workshops hosted by Emerson Goo, Dino-Ray Ramos, as well as a master class hosted by the team behind the wildly popular YouTube video essay series, EVERY FRAME A PAINTING, Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou.
Meet this year’s 2024 HOCCI Cohort:
Anette Arinix Amazing Aga (yes, that’s her real name) is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer homegrown here in Hawai’i. Locals might recognize her as “the wife” from those Diamond Bakery commercials or those weird bumper stickers. She’s graced the stage with theater companies like Kumu Kahua, Manoa Valley Theatre, Mo’olelo Studios, and Stage Fish. Her writing, including her first musical and play, has been featured in the Hawaii Comedy Festival and Kumu Kahua Theatre. In 2021, she co-produced the first Polynesian AF sketch comedy show with Asian AF at the 7th Annual Hawaii Comedy Festival. Anette has also produced shows like ImprovHI’s Comedy Rap Battles, Deck the Ha Ha Ha (a Christmas variety show), and Stories Out Loud, inspired by The Moth. She is OVER THE MOON to have co-produced and starred in SO MUCH NATURE.
Ashton “Bradda Ash” Obrero is a roots reggae musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and co-frontman to Zion Bound, his 10-piece roots reggae band. He was born and raised in Kalihi Valley in Honolulu, Hawai’i. As a full Ilokano and a grandson of a Sakada, Ashton’s family history in Hawai’i began when his grandfather Timoteo arrived in 1946 to work in sugar and pineapple plantations. Ashton is the owner and founder of Creative Natives, a music and multimedia network designed by and for local artists. Through this platform, he curates musical and cultural experiences, collaborating with some of Hawaiʻiʻs most influential musicians, artists, storytellers, and aloha ʻaina warriors from various levels of artistry.
Carley Matsumura is a Creative Media student pursuing a BA in Communications and New Media Technologies and a Certificate in Music at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. Her interest in storytelling originates from the community aspect of sharing a connection with others. She enjoys the way themes explored within film can be interpreted through symbolism. Carley looks forward to the possibilities of a career involving storytelling after graduation.
Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro is the founder of an online platform that helps people live healthy, thriving, and inspired lives. With a background in policy advocacy, Elise is passionate about storytelling, thought leadership in film, and socially conscious film critique. A former fellow with Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking’s Wāhine in Film Lab in 2022, she is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of creators and driving impactful conversations through film.
Ikani Naulu is a multifaceted creative working as a photographer, writer, and freelance social media manager and content creator. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and of Tongan descent, he is a member of Honua Media, a Pacific Islander group focused on storytelling through food and culture. A graduate of Bushnell University with a business degree, Ikani combines his creativity and business skills in his work. In his free time, Ikani enjoys treating himself to movies, playing pickleball, and cooking for his family. His ultimate goal is to contribute to opening doors for fellow Tongan people who are interested in the arts and entertainment industry.
Kaitlyn Kim was born and raised on the island of O’ahu and is a currently a senior at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa studying Cinematic Arts and Business Management. When she was little, she had a deep love for storytelling in all of its forms, but specifically in film. As a screenwriter, she is deeply passionate about telling unconventional and personal stories across all sorts of genres. She has recently become more involved with HIFF, serving as a part of their Student Advisory Committee and, briefly, as their Events Production Intern. In her free time, she enjoys reading cheesy YA novels and play farming video games like Harvest Moon.
Dr. Sho Araiba is a Japanese behavior analyst by day and a YouTuber/filmmaker by night. On his YouTube channel, DR. SHO SHOW, he analyzes anime and movies using behavioral psychology. He grew up in Tokyo, studied in New York, and lives and works in Hawai’i.
2024 HOCCI MENTORS
We also want to give a huge mahalo to this year’s incredible lineup of mentors. These include established film critics, journalists, and industry professionals:
Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou, Vancouver-based creators of the wildly popular YouTube video essay series EVERY FRAME A PAINTING—which has amassed 2 million subscribers—are coming back to HIFF, after their wildly successful masterclass in 2022! From YouTube videos to Netflix series (VOIR) and indie features to animation studios, the duo have worked on projects big and small, for themselves and others. Join them for the Hawai‘i premiere of their short film, THE SECOND, starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (KIM’S CONVENIENCE, THE MANDALORIAN), and an exclusive lecture about its making, the “one for us, one for them” ethos, restarting their channel for a new, temporary run, and how they’ve charted their careers.
Dino-Ray Ramos is an award-winning journalist who served as editor at Deadline Hollywood. In 2021, launched the media platform DIASPORA, spotlighting voices making systemic change in film, TV and pop culture. He currently hosts The Green Room podcast and has also produced, created, and hosted the Problematic Fave and the GLAAD Media Award-winning New Hollywood podcast. His work has been seen in Vogue, Entertainment Tonight, San Francisco Chronicle, and Oakland Tribune. In addition to writing, he has taught at Columbia College of Chicago and has consulted for clients including GLAAD, Amazon Studios, Hulu, MGM, Orion Pictures, Film Independent, Center For Asian American Media (CAAM), Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), among others. He is a member of The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, the Critics Choice Association, and was part of Gold House’s A100 List which recognizes the most impactful Asians in the country.
Emerson Goo is a Deaf writer, film programmer, and planner/landscape designer from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. He writes about film and moving-image art across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as issues in landscape architecture and urban planning. His writing can be found in publications such as Film Comment, MUBI, Screen Slate, Cinema Scope, Design Museum Magazine, and the New York Review of Architecture. He is a strong advocate for disabled inclusion in the arts and across the built environment professions. Additonally, he has programmed films for the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Cal Poly Film Production Society, and was a programming intern with the HIFF. In 2022, he was a Documentary Magazine Editorial Fellow at the International Documentary Association. He is a member of the Hawaiʻi Film Critics Society. Learn more about Emerson here.
