HIFF Programming

Programmer’s Picks: Attend the Panel with Director GRACE LEE this Saturday

‘Ōpio Fest, Events, HIFF Talks, Programming Updates / By HIFF Programming

Grace Lee is a Peabody-award-winning filmmaker whose credits include AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS, the doc series AND SHE COULD BE NEXT, ASIAN AMERICANS, and THE GRACE LEE PROJECT, which brought her to Hawaii to interview Hawaii News Now reporter Grace Lee. Her latest documentary feature, Based in Los Angeles, she is […]

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Programmer’s Picks: THE UGLY STEPSISTER

‘Ōpio Fest, Features, In Theaters, Programming Updates, Reviews / By HIFF Programming

The Brothers Grimm were sadistic perverts in their moral fables for children that in reality were pure, sadistic subterfuge. Hyperbolic? Yeah, sure, but this new take on CINDERELLA, is at times, more brutal than THE BRUTALIST. HIFF is honored to present the Hawai‘i premiere of THE UGLY STEPSISTER, after its wild Sundance world premiere.

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Programmer’s Picks: ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO

‘Ōpio Fest, Film Festival News, In Theaters, Programming Updates, Spring Showcase, Sundance / By HIFF Programming

If you’re even a little into the Beatles—or you’re someone who’s had” Imagine” on repeat more times than you can count—then you need to check out ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO. It’s not just another music doc. It’s an inside look at the love, the music, and the chaos that surrounded one of rock’s

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Programmer’s Picks: STATE OF STATELESSNESS is an anthology of Tibetans in exile

‘Ōpio Fest, Features, Film Festival News, Programming Updates, Reviews, Spring Showcase / By HIFF Programming

The first-ever Tibetan-language anthology feature film produced is screening in the HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest after its world premiere at the Busan Film Festival. STATE OF STATELESSNESS: TALES FROM THE TIBETAN DIASPORA is comprised of four short segments directed by Tibetan filmmakers living in exile in India, America and Vietnam. Each film delves into the profound

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Programmer’s Picks: THE SHROUDS is David Cronenberg’s most personal film

‘Ōpio Fest, Features, Film Festival News, Programming Updates, Reviews, Spring Showcase / By HIFF Programming

David Cronenberg’s THE SHROUDS is a conundrum of a film. First off, it is a poignant departure from his traditional body horror oeuvre, delving deep into the realms of grief, mortality, and the intertwining of technology with human emotion. This film offers a contemplative exploration of how we confront death in an age dominated by

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HIFF ‘ŌPIO FEST – A CELEBRATION OF HAWAI’I ‘NEXT GEN’ FILMMAKERS, FILMS STRAIGHT FROM SUNDANCE & SPECIAL GUESTS

‘Ōpio Fest, Programming Updates, Spring Showcase, Sundance / By HIFF Programming

HIFF ‘ŌPIO FEST runs April 8-13, 2025, in Honolulu at Consolidated Theatres Kahala presenting 16 feature films, 6 shorts, and 56 student films HONOLULU, HI (MARCH 10, 2025) – The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) unites its annual Spring Showcase, which brings the brightest new voices in international cinema ahead of its Fall Festival,

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THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS Review

Hawai‘i Films, HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By HIFF Programming

Of all the films that I’ve seen at HIFF 44, one of these films that stood out amongst the rest was the animated short THE QUEENʻS FLOWERS. It is an Indigenous Hawaiian animation short directed by Ciara Leinaʻala Lacy. The film is based on a true story and takes place in 1915 Honolulu, it follows

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IN-YOUR-FACE: Exploring the Chaotic Inspirations & The Spiritual Realm of MANIFESTO [FOR CONCRETE POETRY]

Features, Hawai‘i Films, HIFF44, HIFILM, HOCCI, Interview, Reviews / By HIFF Programming

If you want to watch a short film that is blunt, in-your-face, and smacks you out of nowhere, look no further than the short MANIFESTO [FOR CONCRETE POETRY], directed by Richard Hamasaki, Jody Stillwater & Sebastian Galasso. The imagery, editing combined with the avant-garde archival use of texture and imagery, bring to life the poem

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HIFF44 Post-Mortem: Programming Teams’ Picks

Features, HIFF44, Programming Updates, Reviews / By HIFF Programming

As the dust settles from the just concluded 44th Hawai‘I International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF44), the festival staff is currently going through wrap-up reports, crunching numbers, and analyzing data. On the programming side, it’s several post-mortems as we reflect on some of our personal film favorites, in the hopes that we can amplify

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Spotlight on HIFF44 Short Films Worth a Second Look

Awards, HIFF44, Interview, Reviews / By HIFF Programming

HIFF44 had many shorts programs this season, so we’re not surprised that our loyal patrons may have missed a film or two due to scheduling conflicts. So with the help of our head of short programming, Melina Kiyomi Coumas, we’d like to recommend a handful of films that may have escaped your attention on the

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