The second annual HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest celebrated the exceptional talent of Hawai’i’s young filmmakers on Saturday, April 12, with the announcement of this year’s jury award winners and honorees. The festival showcased outstanding short films across two categories: the ‘ŌPIO JUNIOR SHOWCASE featuring promising elementary and middle school creators, and the ‘ŌPIO NEXT GEN SHOWCASE highlighting the impressive vision of high school filmmakers throughout the islands.
Two top awards were given: the Best ‘Ōpio Junior Film Award and the Best ‘Ōpio Next Gen Film Junior Award. Additionally, two honoree awards were recognized for the ‘Ōpio Junior Showcase, the Eye-Catching Animation Award and Creative Spark Award and three honorees were recognized for the ‘Ōpio Next Gen Showcase: the Cultural Beacon Award, LOL-Amazing Award, and Outstanding Documentary Award.
The films selected to be featured in this category were nominated with the help of the HIFF Student Advisory Committee. The awarded films were adjudicated by a select jury that included Paula Fuga, poet, composer, singer-songwriter, children’s author, and Executive Producer/writer of the short film KŪKINI; Mitchel Merrick, director, writer, and editor whose works include KŪKINI, WATER LIKE FIRE, KA HO’I, and KĀLEWA; and Alexander Cleary, recipient of HIFF44’s HIFFxBMW Driven Student Filmmaker Award.
‘ŌPIO JUNIOR SHOWCASE WINNER
BEST ‘ŌPIO JUNIOR FILM AWARD
Honoring Hawai’i’s youngest and most talented filmmakers, the Best ‘Ōpio Junior Film Award celebrates an exceptional film created by middle school students or younger. This special recognition highlights outstanding creativity, storytelling, and technical skill at a remarkably young age.
The 2025 Best ‘Ōpio Junior Film Award goes to HO’OPILI ‘ANA MA O KE KAPA, directed by Kili Correa of Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Big Island.
‘ŌPIO JUNIOR SHOWCASE HONOREES
EYE-CATCHING ANIMATION AWARD
The 2025 HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest Eye-Catching Animation Award goes to NATIONAL OUTFITS, directed by Emily (Baochi) Tran of Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School and Queen Ka’ahumanu Elementary School.
CREATIVE SPARK AWARD
The 2025 HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest Creative Spark Award goes to DIRT & DAYDREAMS, directed by Bryce Enomoto, Landon Onishi, Madison Lile, and Mari Nakamura of Hawaii Baptist Academy.
‘ŌPIO NEXT GEN SHOWCASE WINNER
BEST ‘ŌPIO NEXT GEN FILM AWARD
The Best ‘Ōpio Student Film Award celebrates the most exceptional narrative, documentary, or animated film by a high school student filmmaker from across Hawai’i. The winning film showcases remarkable storytelling, technical skill, and creative vision, recognizing the immense potential of its student filmmaker as an emerging voice of cinema in Hawai’i.
The 2025 Best ‘Ōpio Next Gen Film Award Winner is NEW START, directed by Virgil Tan of Kalani High School.
‘ŌPIO NEXT GEN SHOWCASE HONOREES
CULTURAL BEACON AWARD
The 2025 HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest Cultural Beacon Award goes to LEIHANA, directed by Layla Yamamoto and Michi Yorkston of Mid-Pacific Institute.
LOL-AMAZING AWARD
The 2025 HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest LOL-Amazing Award goes to SUMMER JOB, directed by Sage Shiroma of Hawaii Baptist Academy.
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY AWARD
The 2025 HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest Outstanding Documentary Award goes to ARTHUR AWARDS: A TIMELESS CELEBRATION, directed by Lathan Guzman, Jamaeca Gandia, and Haley Andam of Waipahu High School.
JURY AWARD WINNERS:
- Best ‘Ōpio Junior Film Award: HO’OPILI ‘ANA MA O KE KAPA (Directed Kili Correa, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Big Island)
- Best ‘Ōpio Next Gen Film Award: NEW START (Directed by Virgil Tan, Kalani High School)
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Eye-Catching Animation Award: NATIONAL OUTFITS (Directed by Emily (Baochi) Tran, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School, Queen Ka’ahumanu Elementary School)
- Creative Spark Award: DIRT & DAYDREAMS (Directed by Bryce Enomoto, Landon Onishi, Madison Lile, and Mari Nakamura, Hawaii Baptist Academy)
- Cultural Beacon Award: LEIHANA (Directed by Layla Yamamoto and Michi Yorkston, Mid-Pacific Institute)
- LOL-Amazing Award: SUMMER JOB (Directed by Sage Shiroma, Hawaii Baptist Academy)
- Outstanding Documentary Award: ARTHUR AWARDS: A TIMELESS CELEBRATION (Directed by Lathan Guzman, Jamaeca Gandia, and Haley Andam, Waipahu High School)
These showcases are sponsored by Island Insurance, which has proudly served individuals and businesses statewide for over 80 years. Guided by a founding philosophy of providing insurance options for the people of Hawaii, Island has grown to be Hawaii’s largest locally owned and managed property and casualty (P&C) insurance company and achieved national recognition as a Ward Group Top 50 P&C insurer for 17 consecutive years and one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work for 18 consecutive years.
