From acting and screenwriting to independent film financing, HIFF46 connects Hawai‘i’s creative talent with leading professionals from the global entertainment industry.
The 46th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF46) announces three exclusive Masterclasses featuring acclaimed actor Holt McCallany, award-winning producer and writer Wendy Sweetmore, and Max Geschwind of Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Beyond presenting world-class cinema, HIFF is committed to cultivating Hawai‘i’s filmmaking community through professional development, mentorship, and meaningful industry access. These invitation-only Masterclasses provide rare opportunities for local actors, writers, and filmmakers to learn directly from accomplished industry professionals in intimate, interactive settings.
With limited participation, each session emphasizes practical skills, creative growth, and real-world insights to help Hawai‘i’s storytellers advance their careers and connect with the global film industry.
ACTORS MASTERCLASS WITH HOLT McCALLANY
Breaking Habits, Finding Truth | Four-Hour Intensive
Acclaimed actor Holt McCallany (MINDHUNTER, THE IRON CLAW, FIGHT CLUB) leads an intensive Masterclass for trained and experienced actors seeking to break familiar performance habits and rediscover spontaneity in their work.
Inspired by Harold Guskin’s influential book HOW TO STOP ACTING, McCallany introduces an approach that places the text at the center of performance. Rather than predetermining emotional choices, actors learn to respond instinctively to the words, embracing uncertainty, impulse, and discovery.
Through practical scene work, participants will challenge established techniques and explore performances that feel more immediate, authentic, and alive.
Participation is limited to approximately 20 experienced actors. Scenes will be provided, or participants may bring material in development. Prior acting training or experience is required, and advance reading of HOW TO STOP ACTING is recommended.
About Holt McCallany
With a career spanning more than 30 years, McCallany has collaborated with acclaimed directors including David Fincher, Guillermo del Toro, Michael Mann, Clint Eastwood, and Guy Ritchie. Best known for his starring role in Netflix’s MINDHUNTER, his credits include FIGHT CLUB, THE IRON CLAW, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING, THE AMATEUR, and THE WATERFRONT. Trained internationally at the Sorbonne, L’École Marcel Marceau, L’École Jacques Lecoq, and Oxford, McCallany brings extensive experience across theater, film, and television.
DREAMTIME STORY LAB: SPARK TO PITCH
A Two-Day Screenwriting Masterclass with Wendy Sweetmore
LOCAL STORIES. GLOBAL REACH.
How does the spark of an idea become a compelling screenplay ready for the industry?
Award-winning international producer, writer, and former studio executive Wendy Sweetmore leads DREAMTIME STORY LAB: SPARK TO PITCH, an intensive two-day Masterclass designed for emerging and experienced screenwriters.
Over approximately six hours, Sweetmore guides participants through six essential stages of feature screenplay development: crafting a compelling premise and logline, creating memorable characters, identifying theme and story engine, building a narrative blueprint, strengthening scene craft, and navigating the drafting, rewriting, and pitching process.
Emphasizing LOCAL STORIES. GLOBAL REACH., the workshop explores how culturally specific stories can connect with universal audiences while positioning projects for the international film industry.
About Wendy Sweetmore
With more than three decades of experience, Sweetmore has held senior positions at MGM Studios, United Artists, and Mark Burnett Productions. Her producing credits include THE FIX, starring Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi, and the upcoming A VISIT TO GRANDPA’S, starring Anthony Hopkins. She previously contributed to Disney productions including THE PARENT TRAP, A BUG’S LIFE, MULAN, and TARZAN. In 2026, she was honored as Theatrical Producer of the Year by Producers Without Borders during the Venice Film Festival.
Special mahalo to the Honolulu Film Office for supporting this Masterclass and designating Wendy Sweetmore as this year’s Artist in Residence.
HIFILM EXCLUSIVE MASTERCLASS WITH MAX GESCHWIND (CAA)
Inside Independent Film Financing, Packaging & Sales
Exclusively for current HIFILM members
What does it take to get an independent film financed, sold, and seen in today’s competitive marketplace?
Max Geschwind of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) offers an insider’s perspective on independent film financing, packaging, sales, and distribution.
Drawing on his experience in CAA’s Media Finance department, Geschwind will discuss what financiers and distributors look for, what makes a film package stand out, and how producers can strategically navigate the festival and sales landscape.
This candid, practical conversation offers actionable insights for filmmakers seeking to position their projects for financing, distribution, and international audiences.
The Masterclass will be co-moderated by Ciara Lacy and Phil Chung.
About Max Geschwind
Based in Los Angeles, Max Geschwind works in CAA’s Media Finance department, specializing in packaging, financing, and selling distribution rights for independently financed films. He joined CAA in 2021 and is a member of CAA Elevate, the agency’s professional development program. He holds degrees in Cinema and Media Studies and Political Science from the University of Southern California.
INVESTING IN HAWAI‘I’S CREATIVE FUTURE
For 46 years, HIFF has connected Hawai‘i with the global film community, championing diverse storytelling while nurturing the next generation of filmmakers. These exclusive Masterclasses extend that mission beyond the screen, providing local talent with direct access to industry expertise, mentorship, and professional opportunities rarely available in Hawai‘i.
From developing stronger performances and screenplays to understanding the business of independent cinema, these sessions reflect HIFF’s commitment to building a sustainable, globally connected filmmaking ecosystem.
All Masterclasses are invitation-only, with limited capacity. The Holt McCallany intensive requires prior acting experience, while the Max Geschwind session is reserved for current HIFILM members. Participation details will be shared directly with invited attendees.
Through these initiatives, HIFF continues to invest in Hawai‘i’s creative community, ensuring that local stories and storytellers have the tools, connections, and opportunities to reach audiences around the world.
