HIFF45 is proud to showcase our selection of LGBTQIA+ film selections from international features from countries such as France, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Australia, with shorts from New Zealand, China, Taiwan, and Cambodia. We’re also excited to showcase shorts domestically from the United States and right here in Hawai’i. The LGBTQIA+ features and shorts this year is one of the strongest lineups the festival’s had in years, with a diverse selection of queer perspectives and narratives. From Sydney Sweeney’s powerful portrait of trailblazing women’s boxing champion Christy Martin in CHRISTY to LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS—a riotous animated sci-fi comedy, there’s sure to be something of interest for all audiences.
HEDDA
Directed by Nia DaCosta
October 18, 7:30pm | October 23, 12:00pm — Consolidated Kahala
Transplanted to mid-century England, CANDYMAN and the upcoming 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE director Nia DaCosta’s adaptation is a bold reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s play. Hedda (Tessa Thompson, in a magnetic performance in a fresh, feminist game of power) is a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, as she navigates repressed desires and a past love while manipulating those around her, leading to manipulation, betrayal, and ultimately, tragedy.
CHRISTY
Directed by David Michôd
October 22, 5:30pm | October 24, 3:15pm — Consolidated Kahala / November 13, 7:00pm — Palace Theater
Sydney Sweeney delivers a tour-de-force performance as trailblazing boxer Christy Martin in CHRISTY, a fierce story of survival and self-discovery. From her early days in West Virginia “Toughwoman” contests to breaking barriers in professional boxing, Christy fights her way to the top of a male-dominated sport. But outside the ring, she faces a volatile marriage to her coach Jim Martin (Ben Foster), marked by abuse and control. Sweeney embodies Martin’s grit and vulnerability in this riveting true-life drama of self-actualization in the face of terrifying adversity.
MAG MAG
Directed by Yuriyan Retriever
October 18, 8:15pm | October 23, 3:00pm — Consolidated Kahala
MAG MAG reinvents Japanese horror with a wickedly comic twist. Directed by comedian and America’s Got Talent alum Yuriyan Retriever, the film blends romance, revenge, and supernatural terror. After Sanae’s lover is killed by the Mag Mag ghost, she vows vengeance—only to uncover a shocking betrayal at the heart of her grief. Part horror, part love story, this delirious genre mash-up transforms heartbreak into a darkly funny, unforgettable spectacle from an exciting new voice in Japanese global entertainment.
A USEFUL GHOST
Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
October 19, 11:30am | October 26, 6:45pm — Consolidated Kahala
March is mourning his wife Nat (Thai superstar Davika Hoorne) who has recently passed away due to dust pollution. He discovers her spirit has returned by possessing the vacuum cleaner. Being disturbed by a ghost that appeared after a worker’s death shut down their factory, his family reject the unconventional human-ghost relationship. Trying to convince them of their love, Nat offers to cleanse the factory. To become a useful ghost, she must first get rid of the useless ones.
LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS
Directed by Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
October 20, 5:15pm — Consolidated Kahala / Noivenber 16, 5:00pm — Palace Theater
Introverted lesbian space princess Saira embarks on a mission to rescue her ex from evil incel aliens, enlisting the help of an enby popstar and a cantankerous boomer spaceship. Brimming with colors as bright as its gay in-jokes, and shades of offbeat animated romps like ADVENTURE TIME and SCOTT PILGRIM, LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS is a frenetic sci-fi-comedy musical that isn’t afraid to ‘lez’ it all out.
MĀHŪ: A TRANS-PACIFIC LOVE LETTER + Shorts
Directed by Lisette Marie Flanary
October 17, 6:00pm | October 26, 12:15pm — Consolidated Kahala
MĀHŪ: A TRANS-PACIFIC LOVE LETTER is a short documentary about an innovative theater production by master hula teacher, Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne, which aims to reclaim and celebrate the traditional place of honor and respect given to māhū (transgender) people. The concept of gender fluidity from a Native Hawaiian perspective is explored in a multi-media stage performance featuring acclaimed transgender artists such as Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Iwalani Hoʻomanawanui Apo, and Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole.
ATA PŪAO
A tender portrait of self-discovery and young adulthood, Ata Pūao traces a Māori trans woman, Hiwa, as she navigates the unfamiliar terrain of Auckland City on her 21st birthday. Grappling with fragile bonds she fears she’s outgrown, and caught between moments of danger, isolation, and connection, she must choose whether to stay tethered to her past or embrace a new sense of belonging.
KAPŌ MA‘I LELE (KAPŌ AND HER FLYING LADY PARTS)
In ancient Hawai‘i, an arrogant demigod, Kamapuaʻa, pursues the fiery volcano goddess, Pele, who tires of his playboy exploits and calls upon her sister”s female power for aid. She lures him to O‘ahu, and in an explosive frenzy, traps him in the crater known from then on as Kohelepele.
QUEER SHORTS
Shorts Program
October 20, 8:00pm | October 23, 1:00pm — Consolidated Kahala
