The 46th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF46) proudly presents its annual PACIFIC SHOWCASE, celebrating the vibrant storytelling traditions, cultural identities, and contemporary voices of Oceania.
Presented by Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), this year’s showcase brings together films that reflect the diversity and interconnected histories of the Pacific, from Hawai‘i and Aotearoa to Samoa, Tonga, and beyond.
Spanning documentary and narrative filmmaking, these stories explore Indigenous identity, cultural preservation, family, resilience, and the complexities of contemporary Pacific life. Through deeply personal perspectives, they challenge stereotypes, reclaim narratives, and affirm the importance of Pacific Islanders telling their own stories.
As a Festival founded on building cultural bridges between Asia, the Pacific, and the world, HIFF remains committed to championing Indigenous filmmakers and strengthening connections across our island communities.
Pacific Showcase Shorts Programs
– PACIFIC SHOWCASE SHORTS: WHERE WE BELONG — Seven stories exploring Pacific Islander identity, family, cultural roots, and belonging across the diaspora. Films include IAKWE: HELLO, GOODBYE, LANI, OF THE LAND, OHANA VENDORS, THE PLATFORM, THE RAPTURE, and TAMAI.
– PACIFIC SHOWCASE SHORTS: BETWEEN WORLDS — Four films exploring identity, transformation, and the search for home through drama, fantasy, and Indigenous storytelling. Includes AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE, FACELESS, OUR BIG GREAT TOTALLY AWESOME (AND PRACTICAL) ESCAPE, and POUĀKAI (RAPTOR).
– PACIFIC SHOWCASE SHORTS: PACIFIC DAUGHTERS — Four films centering Pacific women reclaiming identity, culture, and belonging. Includes EI, HOʻOLONO (TO LISTEN DEEPLY), LADY SHAKA: SONIC SANDS, and LIKE FATHER LIKE DAUGHTER.
– PACIFIC SHOWCASE SHORTS: TRACING HOME — Four personal journeys exploring ancestry, cultural reconnection, and the meaning of home. Includes HOPE LOA, NOBODY #9, PILI HOU–FINDING HELEN, and WHERE YOU FIND ME.
Pacific Showcase Feature Films
The HIFF46 lineup also identifies these four Pacific Showcase features:
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LOMU — Gavin FitzGerald and Vea Mafileʻo’s documentary about legendary Tongan-New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu.
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SGT. HAANE — Tearepa Kahi’s historical drama honoring Māori Battalion soldier Haane Manahi and his extraordinary courage during World War II.
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SUKUNDIMI WALKS BEFORE ME — An urgent documentary following Indigenous communities defending Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River against a proposed mining project.
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WOLFRAM — Warwick Thornton’s Australian outback Western following three Aboriginal youths fleeing exploitation and colonial violence.
In addition, the following Pacific Films are co-presented as part of the MADE IN HAWAI’I section:
- LAHAINA: VOICES OF CHANGE w/ KŪKULU
- PROTECTING KAHOʻOLAWE: 50 YEARS OF ALOHA ʻĀINA w/ SACRED ISLAND: LIVING THE DREAM
- EA (SOVEREIGN)
- THE MAN AND THE TREE
- NIU FOREVER w/ WHAT WE CALL HOME
- MAKING THE LINE
- THE NAVIGATOR
Mahalo to Pacific Islanders in Communications — which marks its 35th anniversary this year — for its continued partnership and dedication to amplifying Pacific Islander voices through film and media.
Explore the PACIFIC SHOWCASE lineup and purchase tickets at HIFF46.
