REGISTER FOR A FREE ACM PASS AT HIFF44
HIFF x ACM Accelerator is a statewide program designed for students and faculty members supported by the Academy for Creative Media (ACM) System across the University of Hawai‘i’s (UH) ten campuses. For the 2024 – 2025 academic year, participants have an opportunity to make industry connections, with access to the Festival. By engaging in these ways, participants can explore and advance their own creative and professional development goals. Thanks to the generosity of the UH ACM System, we are proud to offer this program at no cost to participants.
Check out the full program and its benefits below and register by September 15, 2024 for a free ACM Pass for the upcoming 44th Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF44), open to any student or faculty member of UH that is supported by the ACM System.
HIFF44 FESTIVAL DATES
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2024
Registration Link: www.tinyurl.com/hiff44acm
Who is eligible to register for an ACM Pass at HIFF44?
Any student or faculty member of UH that is supported by the ACM System are eligible.
You must register for festival accreditation by Sunday, September 15 in order to activate the FREE ACM pass for the 44th annual Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF44) presented by Halekulani. Registering on time will grant pass holders access to booking tickets in advance (for a limited time).
ACM Pass Benefits at HIFF44 Include:
- Access to book HIFF44 tickets in advance of the Festival dates (limited to the first week that tickets go on sale to the public)
- Free Admission to 5 HIFF44 premiere screenings (Tickets must be booked between September 16 to September 23)
- Invitation to a virtual kickoff with filmmakers Alika Tengan and Erin Lau on HIFF’s interactive metaverse (RSVPs required)
- Invitation to screenings and special presentations at UH West O’ahu (RSVPs required)
- Free admission to all HIFF44 Industry Panels (RSVPs required)
- Free HIFF Industry Membership for the year (This is a membership separate from the Festival, expires September 2025)
Booking Advance Tickets Window – Monday, September 16 to Monday, September 23
Once registered, pass holders will receive a confirmation email from HIFF and will be granted access to HIFF’s ticketing system (Elevent). Pass holders will have early access to book their tickets in advance of the Festival during the first week of ticket release to the general public on Monday, September 16 to Monday, September 23. ACM Pass holders who miss the advanced booking window can use their pass to book available day-of-show tickets IF there are any available.
The HIFF44 program will be announced on Friday, September 6 at HIFF.org. For any questions, please email the HIFF Education team at [email protected]
HIFF44 ACM Accelerator Virtual Kick-off in HIFF’s Metaverse
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2024 | 10:00 AM TO 11:00 AM HST
RSVP to receive the event link
Celebrate the kick-off of the 44th Annual Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani with a unique twist—the event takes place in HIFF’s metaverse, an interactive platform that resembles an 8-bit video game! Network and interact with fellow attendees and meet ACM alumni and award-winning filmmakers, Alika Tengan (MOLOKA’I BOUND, EVERY DAY IN KAIMUKI) and Erin Lau (STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS, REEL WĀHINE OF HAWAI’I). Open to ACM Passholders and the public. Must RSVP for the link to attend!
PANELIST - alika tengan
Alika Tengan is a Hapa Hawaiian/ Asian filmmaker based out of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, whose short films MAUKA TO MAKAI and MOLOKA‘I BOUND have garnered multiple awards, including “Best Short Work” at ImagineNative, which granted them Oscar Consideration for the 2021 Academy Awards and landed the film a home on the Criterion Channel. The MOLOKA’I BOUND short inspired a feature-length script which was selected for the inaugural Indigenous Black List. His first feature-length film, EVERYDAY IN KAIMUKĪ had its World Premiere in the NEXT category of Sundance 2022. His sophomore feature, MOLOKA’I BOUND will have its Hawai’i premiere at HIFF44.
PANELIST - erin lau
Erin Lau is a Native Hawaiian filmmaker who has dedicated her life to creating stories that explore empathy, family, and identity. She completed her Bachelors at UH Mānoa’s Academy for Creative Media and received her MFA from Chapman University. After graduating, Erin worked as a Senior Producer-Director for Jubilee Media, where she developed community-focused content for global brands including Google, SK-II, and Always. Her short films have also screened in over 50 festivals worldwide. Her Chapman thesis THE MOON AND THE NIGHT received support from the 2017 Sundance Native Lab, was shortlisted for the Student BAFTA awards, and featured on the Criterion Channel. Her latest film INHERITANCE premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and won the Oscar-Qualifying Best Hawai‘i Short Award at HIFF42. Most recently, Erin directed her first episode of network television for the FOX series RESCUE: HI-SURF. In the documentary space, her latest projects include directing on the Emmy-winning docuseries REEL WĀHINE OF HAWAIʻI and producing Cris Romento’s short DEAR ALOHA and Jalena Keane-Lee’s feature, STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS. All of which are screening at HIFF44.
MODERATOR - anderson le
Based in Los Angeles and Honolulu, Anderson Le diligently works in the global promotion of independent and world cinema as Artistic Director for the Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF), now in its 44th year. He is also a programming consultant for the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy and was the Head of Programming for the inaugural Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival. He has previously consulted for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian, and Singapore International Film Festival. In 2020, Le co-founded EAST FILMS, a transpacific media company whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers to excel in the global entertainment market through engaging and thought provoking content. EAST projects include ROM (2019), which won the Busan Film Festival ‘s New Currents Award; BE WATER (2020), currently on Disney+, and MAIKA (2022). Both films had their world premieres at the Sundance Film Festival.
iN CONVERSATION WITH TEMUERA MORRISON + FREE SCREENING OF
THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT Chapter 2: “The Tribes of Tatooine”
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024 | 11:00 AM TO 12:20 PM
University of Hawai’i West O’ahu | ACM Student Production Center Screening Room
RSVPs Required
Join us for an exciting program featuring a special screening presentation of THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT “Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine” and a live conversation with Actor Temuera Morrison, who stars as the titular Boba Fett. THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT is a Disney+ television miniseries created by Jon Favreau. This series is part of the STAR WARS franchise and is a spin-off of THE MANDALORIAN. The series follows bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand as they return to Tatooine to claim Jabba the Hutt’s old territory. In the episode, “Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine,” Boba faces new challengers on Tatooine. Check back for a free ticket starting September 16.
FEATURED GUEST - temuera morrison
New Zealand born Temuera Morrison, a multi-faceted entertainer, has long been an international cultural icon; not only as one of the nation’s foremost actors but as a leading proponent of Māori culture and performance. Born in Rotorua, of Te Arawa and Ngati Maniapoto Ngati Rarua descent, Temuera’s membership in a famous entertainment family ensured an early interest in performance art. At home and internationally, his career breakthrough came in 1994, playing Jake “The Muss” Heke in the groundbreaking movie ONCE WERE WARRIORS, and its follow-up WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED?, for which he earned a Best Actor award from the New Zealand Film Awards. Some of Temuera’s most iconic roles include Jango Fett and Boba Fett of the Star Wars Universe, Chief Tui in Disney’s MOANA and upcoming MOANA 2, and Tom Curry in the Aquaman movies. He co-starred in KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END, which broke box office records in New Zealand this past summer. His most upcoming projects are CHIEF OF WAR, THE WRECKING CREW, and THE BLUFF.
MODERATOR - beckie stocchetti
Beckie Stocchetti is the Executive Director of HIFF. At the helm, Beckie has revitalized the organization, spotlighting emerging talent from Asia and the Pacific Islands, and bringing focus to local Hawai’i content and filmmakers through developing and launching new competition programs, cash awards, in-flight screenings on Hawaiian Airlines, content development, and youth programs. With a focused career on developing independent creative talent, Beckie regularly speaks at national and international Festivals and conferences on supporting and evolving local film industries and spotlighting diverse voices through film. Previously, Beckie lived and worked in Chicago as an independent filmmaker and held numerous industry positions including with Kartemquin Films documentary production company, launching a filmmaker-in-residence program with the City of Chicago Film Office, and spearheading a local digital media production fund with Chicago Filmmakers. Beckie has served on various Boards and dedicates her time to building investment in the independent film industry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Chicago in Cinema and Media Studies and an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
FREE PUBLIC SCREENING of hawai'i pono'i 1970
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024
1:00 PM to 2:15 PM
University of Hawai’i West O’ahu
91-1001 Farrington Hwy Kapolei, 96707
Building G, ACM Student Production Center Screening Room
RSVPs Required
In partnership with the ‘Ulu‘ulu Archive, Hawai’i’s official state archive for moving images, we are proud to present an encore screening of HAWAI’I PONO’I 1970, a documentary of the Hoʻolauleʻa o Hana music festival, which took place on August 1970. This television production emphasized the importance of music in Hawaiian culture and music via the anthem Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī. Archived at the Bishop Museum Media Collection, the film is beautiful and poetic, resonating with the cultural paradigm shift of the Hawaiian Renaissance. RSVP for a free ticket starting September 16.
Cinema & Media Mentor Connection
Live sessions with professionals from the international filmmaking community who offer industry insight, expertise, and encouragement to creative media students. The sessions take place in-person at University of Hawai’i campuses on O’ahu, Kaua’i, Hawai’i Island, and Maui, throughout the school year.
CREATIVE MEDIA work-in-progress showcase
A public presentation that spotlights a curated group of Creative Media filmmakers from various University of Hawai’i campuses and the projects they’re currently working on. This showcase will be held in the Spring 2025 during HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest.
program events from the fall 2023
‘ULU‘ULU Screening and Panel at UH West O‘ahu
HIFF presented a free public screening and panel in partnership with ‘Ulu’Ulu: The Henry Ku’ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive exhibited at the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu campus in the Dolby Atmos theater. The interactive discussions/screening combined archival footage with the most contemporary issues that Hawai’i is navigating in social, economic, and film industry spaces.
HIFF x ACM Metaverse
Through the customized platform Gather, HIFF hosted a networking/pau hana online event for students with special guests, director Jessica Yu (QUIZ LADY, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, 13 REASONS WHY) and producer Brian Yang (A GREAT DIVIDE, LINSANITY). The 8-BIT GET2GATHER featured an online town for participants to explore that resembled an 8-bit video game and featured iconic O’ahu locations, as well as an Academy for Creative Media center!