(L to R) Directors Kimberlee Bassford (BEFORE THE MOON FALLS) & Marty Schweitzer (LAHAINA RISING) posing with their HIFF45 Made In Hawai‘i Awards at the HIFF45 Awards Ceremony, which was held at Halekulani
October 23, 2025 (Honolulu, HI) – The 45th edition of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF45) presented by Halekulani announced its jury winners and celebrated its Awards Reception at a private event held at the Halekulani Hotel. In its 2025 iteration, the organization awarded $58,000 in prizes to filmmakers across respective categories.
“This year’s theme of convergence reflects the heart of HIFF over the last decade, where stories, cultures, and generations come together through the shared language of cinema,” said Beckie Stocchetti, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. “The 45th edition award winners reflect both the artistic excellence of our filmmakers and their commitment to truth, community, and the spirit of aloha that connects us all. HIFF45 reminds us why storytelling matters: it’s how we remember, how we heal, and how we build bridges across oceans and generations. As HIFF continues, our commitment to championing stories from Hawai‘i and the Asia-Pacific region has never been stronger. These films and filmmakers represent a new wave of global storytellers whose voices, rooted in culture, courage, and creativity, illuminate the power of convergence in its truest form.”
MADE IN HAWAI‘I FILM AWARDS
Now in its ninth year, the Made in Hawai‘i Film awards focus on the dynamic and flourishing local independent film scene striving and thriving in the Hawaiian Islands. Fiction, Non-fiction and short films that are made by locally-based filmmakers or involve locally-based stories are eligible for the Best Made In Hawai‘i Award. which comes with award package prizes from Island Film Group and Hawaii Media Inc. To date HIFF has awarded $1300,000 in cash, equipment, and production service prizes to the local filmmaking community through the HIFF Made in Hawaii Award. The HIFF Made in Hawai‘i film program is supported by the Hawai‘i Film Office. All HIFF Made in Hawaii films are eligible to be showcased on Hawaiian Airlines as part of HIFF’s ongoing in-flight programming partnership.
The HIFF Made In Hawai‘i program told a range of stories, reflecting the diversity of talents and perspectives coming out of Hawai‘i and reflecting the theme of HIFF45 – convergence. This year’s Best Made In Hawai‘i Feature winner is LAHAINA RISING, directed by Matty Schweizter, tied with BEFORE THE MOON FALLS, directed by Kimberlee Bassford.
The jury shared: “In a rare and remarkable occurrence, this year’s Made In Hawai‘i Award for Best Feature goes to two deserving films. Tied for first place is Lahaina Rising, directed by Matty Schweitzer — a powerful and haunting portrayal of the Lahaina wildfires and the courageous fight by the nonprofit Lahaina Strong for accountability and justice in the aftermath of an unprecedented tragedy.
Sharing the honor is Before the Moon Falls, directed by Kimberlee Bassford. This deeply affecting documentary follows trailblazing Samoan writer Sia Figiel through both soaring triumphs and devastating setbacks, offering a profound meditation on the fragile line between creativity and madness. Both films stand as outstanding examples of Hawai‘i storytelling at its most personal, urgent, and artful — and both are more than deserving of this year’s Made In Hawai‘i Award.”
The Made In Hawai‘i jury also recognized DASHER directed by Alexander Bocchieri for Made In Hawai‘i Best Short Film. Under HIFF’s designation as an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for short films, DASHER is eligible to qualify.
For DASHER, the jury shared: “We are thrilled to present the Made In Hawai‘i Award for Best Short Film to DASHER, written by Bryson Chun and directed by Alexander Bocchieri. DASHER is an energetic, funny, and technically excellent snapshot of one night in a Honolulu DoorDasher’s life – capturing the vibrancy of Chinatown and the everyday humor of modern Hawai‘i with rare authenticity. Anchored by standout performances from Taimua Hannemann and Vivien Ngo, the film left us smiling and eager to see what this talented team does next. We are proud to honor Alexander Bocchieri with this year’s Made In Hawai‘i Best Short Film Award.”
An Honorable Mention was given to THE ARRANGEMENTS directed by Sonny Ganaden. “Arrangements follows a group of Micronesian children navigating the loss of a close friend and the challenges of growing up in modern Kalihi. Despite its heavy subject matter, the film shines with warmth, resilience, and hope. Directed with empathy, heart, and precision — and featuring remarkable performances from first-time actors — Arrangements left us deeply moved and inspired.”
The 2025 HIFF Made In Hawai‘i Jurors are: Kimee Balmilero, actress (MAGNUM, P.I.); Jeff Chang, writer (“Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America”); and Noah Evslin, writer-producer (NCIS HAWAI’I, RESCUE: HI-SURF)
HIFF BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
This year’s HIFF Best Short Film Award winner presented by Hawaiian Airlines , also Academy Award®-qualifying for international short film, is CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG directed by Hao Zhou; a struggle of love, legacy, and belief, as a Southwest Chinese family tries to purge an entity from their queer heir.
The jury shared: “For its vulnerable and personal storytelling that delicately immortalizes a heartbreaking practice with grace as a challenge to the belief systems of the filmmaker’s own elders, the jury awards the HIFF Award the Grand Jury Prize for Best International Short to Hao Zhou’s CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG.”
The jury felt compelled to award an honorary mention for Bold Directorial Vision in Narrative Storytelling to a film that crafted an intimate, erotic experience between two strangers enriched with intoxicating textures and profound chemistry to Hung Yi Wu’s THE FISHBOWL GIRL.”
The 2023 HIFF Short Film Jurors are: Erin Lau, director; Megan Leonard, Seattle International Film festival programmer; Marie Jamora, producer/director (QUEEN SUGAR, MATLOCK, FIRE COUNTRY).
KAU KA HŌKŪ AWARD
The Kau Ka Hōkū (Shooting Star) Award presented by Hawaiian Airlines is awarded to an international emerging filmmaker (first or second feature film). Both fiction and non-fiction feature films are nominated by the festival programmers and adjudicated by an international jury.
This year’s Kau Ka Hōkū Award grand jury award winner is KY NAM INN directed by Leon Le. KY NAM INN is a tender drama that follows a young translator and an older widow from opposing sides of the conflict as they navigate unspoken grief, desire, and duty amid the rhythms of everyday Saigon life.
The jury shared “There is a rare, irreplaceable preciousness in making a first and second feature. These early works are marked by both tentativeness and courage — the uncertain steps that eventually give way to conviction, vision, and voice. Mastery takes time — yet even in the early stages of a career, there can be brilliance that transcends limitations and experience. These films are declarations of identity and imagination — proof that the journey toward mastery begins with daring to begin at all. And that, perhaps, is the most luminous quality of a rising star.
That being said, we were particularly captivated by the heart and craft of Ky Nam Inn. Elegance and simplicity can be deceptive — they require deep intention and precision to resonate so deeply. Each character in Ky Nam Inn is distinct and fully realised, their presence vital to the story’s emotional fabric. The film manages to say so much with so little, offering audiences of today a poignant glimpse into another time and social order. Through its beautiful weaving of poetry, music, and literature, Ky Nam not only tells a story — it reminds us of the quiet power of artistry rooted in humanity.”
KY NAM INN WAS PART OF HIFF45’S NEW AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES PROGRAM PRESENTED BY THE VILCEK FOUNDATION.
The 2025 KAU KA HŌKŪ AWARD Jurors are: Diane Quon, Academy Award-nominated producer; Janica Chua, producer and co-founder of Third Culture Content; and David Magdael, founder and president of David Magdael & Associates.
NETPAC AWARD
The Network for the Promotion of Asian-Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian and Pacific film throughout the world. The prestigious NETPAC award is given at select international film festivals to promote Asian and Pacific cinema by spotlighting exceptional works and discovering new talent. The NETPAC award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Rotterdam, Busan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawai’i. HIFF is the only film festival in the United States granted permission to present the NETPAC award.
The 2025 NETPAC/USA Award Winner is KŌKĀ, directed by Kath Akuhata-Brown, selected by the jury for “its magical and moving intergenerational journey of healing and reconciliation through language, culture and community. The NETPAC Award for Best Asian or Pacific Film has been awarded at 30 major international film festivals throughout the world since 1994. The 12 nominees at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival showcase the full depth and breadth of cinematic language: An indigenous verite documentary and a fantastical afterlife animation; dark comedy and film noir; a tale of deep unrequited love and another of Gothic horror; heartbroken mothers seeking revenge and justice for their daughters; sisters battling gangsters for a way out; a slacker coming of age tale; and one unique, sexy love scene involving a vacuum cleaner. From the glittering streets of Seoul’s Gangnam district to the contested fishing grounds of the West Philippine Sea. From a distant immigrant past that casts a long shadow over an ethnic Chinese family in Malaysia, to a modern-day spiritual road trip across Aotearoa with an unlikely pair of very strong women.”
The 2025 NETPAC Jurors are: Shirley Thompson, editor (BASEBALL BEHIND BARBED WIRE); Ida Anita del Mundo filmmaker (K’NA, THE DREAMWEAVER); Mary Kunmi Yu Danico, Director for the Center for Oral History and professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
PASIFIKA AWARD
HIFF partners with Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) to present the Pasifika Award for Best Feature Film. The 2025 Pasifika Award Winner and recipient of $5,000 cash prize is REMATHAU: PEOPLE OF THE OCEAN, directed by Daniel H. Lin. In REMATHAU, we journey with Micronesian explorer Nicole Yamase as she plunges into the depths of the Mariana Trench and surfaces to uncover her identity, ancestral legacies and the resilient spirit of Pacific Island peoples.
The jury stated: “We, the jurors of the Pasifika Film Award, are honored to recognize the enduring power of Pasifika storytelling. Our stories from Moananuiākea hold profound importance – we are not merely islands scattered across the sea, but a vibrant, living people, with a past to honor, a present to embrace, and a future to shape. This year, we had the privilege of screening seven remarkable films, documentaries and a narrative, each carrying a story that needed to be told, and each told with extraordinary grace. We felt the pain, the horror, the heartbreak, and the weight of profound loss. And yet, even in the midst of such intensity, hope endures. It lights our way. It holds the power to heal. It is our anchor. It is our light. It is a path to forgiveness.
These are our filmmakers, powerful storytellers who have embraced this art form and the responsibility of truth-telling. They remind us why our stories matter, and they tell them with courage and grace. Mahalo nui from the bottom of our hearts to all of you, for we know what it takes to do this important work — to make films that inspire understanding and create positive change.
Tonight, one film stands out. Our Pasifika Award recipient shines a light on the islands of Micronesia – often abused, misunderstood, and overlooked. These islands are jewels sparkling across our beloved Pacific, home to communities we hold dear. Through this film, we had the honor of following a young woman as she achieved her PhD, descended to the ocean’s deepest floors, and embarked on a journey of profound self-discovery.
A proud Micronesian, Nicole Yamase’s story speaks to the strength, resilience, and grace of Pacific people everywhere, rooted in the ocean, grounded in culture, and reaching toward the future. Nicole, you are indeed our future and our hope. It is with great pride that we present the 2025 Hawai‘i International Film Festival Pasifika Award to Remathau: People of the Ocean.”
The 2025 Pasifika Jurors are: Heather Guigni, founder of Uluʻulu, the Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive at UH West Oʻahu, producer (FAMILY INGREDIENTS); Alika Tengan, writer/director/producer (MOLOKAʻI BOUND); Catherine Cruz, host of “The Conversation” on Hawai‘i Public Radio.
HIFF x BMW DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD
The HIFF BMW DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD is dedicated to celebrating and supporting a local Hawai‘i university student filmmaker. HIFF’s Student Filmmaker Committee, made up of college-aged students from around the world who have participated in a HIFF Education program, were given the opportunity to curate the HIFF45 University Showcase from over 100 submissions, and select the ‘best short film’. The BMW HAWAII DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD includes a $3,000 cash prize in sponsorship of continued film education, made possible by BMW Hawaii.
The Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF selected WINNER, directed by Tiffany Liu, short narrative about a Chinese American table tennis prodigy, qualifying for Nationals, who will do anything in her power to win.The Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF also granted Honorable Mentions to two other films: THE REMOVER directed by Hunter Daru and CLEAN.EXE directed by Lucas Stevens. THE REMOVER starts with a mysterious disappearance shakes her employer’s household, a young Filipina housekeeper shares a quiet dinner with the grieving son — a simple meal that unravels into a haunting confrontation of guilt, class, and the unspoken truths that bind and divide them. CLEAN.EXE, an animation from Kapiolani Community College, chronicles a hilarious battle of wills between a fed-up cleaning robot and her obnoxious alien master.
Each year the HIFF Gala Honorees are celebrated outstanding artists for their commitment to excellence in their field:
HIFF45 MAVERICK AWARD: KENJI TANIGAKI
The Halekulani Maverick Award is given to an international cinema artist who has a unique and eclectic career trajectory. This year’s recipient is Kenji Tanigaki, a Japanese director, action director, and fight choreographer, who moved to Hong Kong at a very young age to learn Hong Kong style action under the tutelage of Donnie Yen and would craft an almost three decade career working in Asia and Hollywood–ranging from RUROUNI KENSHIN, TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN and his latest directorial effort THE FURIOUS, which world premiered at TIFF’s Midnight Madness, as well as HIFF45.
HIFF45 HALEKULANI VANGUARD AWARD: YURIYAN RETRIEVER
HIFF’s Halekulani Vanguard Award is the Festival’s “rising star” award, honoring an innovator, who has catapulted so quickly into the cultural zeitgeist. Yuriyan Retriever is a comedian and performer, who became Japan’s top solo comedian and gained international attention from “America’s Got Talent.” She’s since collaborated with global brands like Nike and KitKat, and ventured into acting, voice work, and rap. Now based in Los Angeles, Yuriyan stars in The Queen of Villains on Netflix (2024) and makes her directorial debut with MAG MAG (also screened at HIFF45), a meta J-horror satire produced by the new studio K2 Pictures (founded by Hirokazu Koreeda, Takashi Miike, and Shunji Iwai).
HIFF45 LEANNE K. FERRER TRAILBLAZER AWARD PRESENTED BY PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN COMMUNICATIONS: CHIEF OF WAR CULTURAL TEAM
HIFF and PIC are proud to honor the Kānaka Maoli and Pacific Islander creative team behind CHIEF OF WAR (Apple TV+) for their groundbreaking work in bringing an epic, big-budget series to the global stage. This empowering collective of above- and below-the-line leaders — including creator/showrunner Pa‘a Sibbett, creator/director/producer/star Jason Momoa, producers Brian Keaulana and Angela Laprete, alongside an extraordinary team of department heads and cultural advisors — has set a historic precedent. Together, they have fused cultural authenticity with sweeping cinematic storytelling, bringing Hawaiian history, language, and identity to the screen on a scale never before seen in film or television. Their achievement demonstrates that Indigenous stories and representation not only matter, but can thrive at the highest levels of production. In doing so, they are paving the way for future generations of Pacific Island filmmakers, ensuring that voices from Hawai‘i and across Oceania are celebrated worldwide.
SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG FILMMAKER IN PROFILE: NINA PAW
This year’s spotlight is on veteran actress Nina Paw; Her career reached a pinnacle with Ann Hui’s THE WAY WE ARE (2008), which earned her Best Actress at both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. HIFF screened the US premiere of Juno Mak’s SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT, which co-stars Nina Paw.
Additional information on HIFF45 honorees, juries, and awards can be found at https://hiff.org/hiff45-awards-juries/.
The HIFF Audience Awards for Favorite Narrative Feature, Documentary and Short Film, presented by Hawai‘i News Now, will be announced on November 17, 2025 following neighbor island screenings.
Although the Honolulu festival ends, HIFF continues its Festival run with in-person and educational screenings in Kapolei, on Maui, Kaua‘i, Moloka’i, Hawai‘i Island, and Lana’i from October 27-November 16. The full Neighbor Island schedule can be found on HIFF’s website.
KAU KA HOKU AWARD:
- KY NAM INN (Vietnam)
Director: Leon Le
PASIFIKA AWARD:
- REMATHAU: PEOPLE OF THE OCEAN (Hawai‘i, USA)
Director: Daniel H Lin
MADE IN HAWAI’I AWARD:
MIH FEATURE (TIE)
- LAHAINA RISING
Director: Matty Schweizter
- BEFORE THE MOON FALLS
Director: Kimberlee Bassford
MIH SHORT FILM
- DASHER
Director: Alexander Bocchieri
(Honorable Mention):
- THE ARRANGEMENTS
Director: Sonny Ganaden
BEST SHORT FILM:
- CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG (China, Germany)
Director: Hao Zhou
(Honorable Mention):
- THE FISHBOWL GIRL (Taiwan)
Director: Hung Yi Wu
NETPAC AWARD:
- KŌKĀ (New Zealand, Aotearoa)
Director: Kath Akuhata-Brown
BMW HAWAII DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD:
WINNER
Director: Tiffany Liu, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa(Honorable Mentions):
THE REMOVER
Director: Hunter Daru, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
CLEAN.EXE
Director: Lucas Stevens, Kapi’iolani CC
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About Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF)
Established in 1981, the Hawai‘i International Film Festival is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of cultural exchange and media in the Pacific Rim. HIFF is a premier international film event that has won the praise of international filmmakers, scholars, educators, governments, programmers, and film industry leaders across the globe. HIFF’s programming has two particular mandates: to be a festival of record for emerging films from Asia, the Pacific, and North America and to present the top festival films from around the world, annually screening films from over forty-five countries. HIFF’s Industry and Education programs present free content and panels in the fields of film, virtual reality, new media entertainment, and more. These programs reflect HIFF’s commitment to exhibiting innovative creative content coming from the Asia Pacific Rim and commitment to establish a pipeline of creative industry talent in Hawai‘i. HIFF is an Academy Award®-qualifying Festival in both its Best International Short Film and Best Made-In-Hawaii Short Film award categories. For more information, visit www.HIFF.org.
HIFF’s key presenting sponsor is Halekulani. Major sponsors are: Hawaiian Airlines, Middle Management, Star Advertiser, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF).
HIFF FESTIVAL EVENT LISTING
What: 45th Annual Hawai‘i International Film Festival, presented by Halekulani (HIFF)
When: 10/15 – 10/30 in theaters on O‘ahu; 10/27 – 11/16 on neighbor islands
Festival Passes and individual ticket purchases available online at hiff.org.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HIFFHAWAII
Twitter: @HIFF
Instagram: @HIFFHawaii
PRESS CONTACTS
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Lance Rae
(808) 781-1743
