HIFF Programming

Cultivating community in UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SKOOL

Directed by husband and wife filmmaking duo, Todd Soliday and Leah Warshawski, UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SKOOL spotlights a surf instructor in Lahaina, Bull Kotter (Uncle Bully), and his dedication to serving his community amidst the pandemic and following the wake of the August 8th Lahaina wildfire. The documentary begins by showcasing Uncle Bully and the […]

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He Aliʻi ka ʻĀina, He Kauwā ke Kanaka (The Land is Chief, Man is its Servant) – KĀHULI, SEEING WITH HAWAIIAN EYES & KEEPER OF THE BAY

KĀHULI,  SEEING WITH HAWAIIAN EYES, and KEEPER OF THE BAY, all official selections of the 43rd Hawai‘i International Film Festival, are three documentaries bringing awareness to topics such as climate change, rapid extinction and decline of native plants and animals, sustainable Hawaiian practices, and some of the people who are working to preserve this ʻāina.

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Reflecting on the RISE OF HAWAI‘I CINEMA Panel

(L to R) The Rise of Hawa‘i Cinema HIFILM Panelists: Brian Kealana; Ty Sanga; Moses Goods; Ciara Lacy; Kristian “Krit” Fanene Schmidt; Kalikolehua Hurley I had the privilege of attending THE RISE OF HAWAI‘I CINEMA, a HIFILM Panel presented by Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK), which took place on October 9th during the 43rd Hawai‘i

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Lahaina doc UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SKOOL delivers message of hope

Bully Kotter, also known as ‘Uncle Bully,’ teaches children how to surf at a camp in Lahaina, Maui. He is the subject of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival’s co-opening film, UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SKOOL, a documentary by Maui-based filmmakers Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday which began shooting during the pandemic. One of the kids Bully

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Geoff McFetridge & immigrant artists talk about the creative process

(L to R) Geoff McFetridge; Sing J. Lee; HIFF Director of Programming Anna Page; Till Schauder; Nicky Nodjoumi; Sara Nodjoumi; Chiaki Yanagimoto; Debra Zmekhol New American Perspectives (NAP) presented by the Vilcek Foundation shines a spotlight on immigrant and foreign-born artists, celebrating the powerful impact that diversity has on contemporary cinema and media in the

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HIFF43 x HIHumanities Film For Thought Filmmaker Discussions

“United we stand,” is the theme for the 2023 HIFF43 Film for Thought (FFT) series presented by the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities (HIHumanities). It is a phrase so often heard in the United States that the second half of the saying, divided we fall, is frequently left unsaid. It is assumed that’s already known.

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HIFF43 Announces Honorees & Jury Award Winners

As exclusively reported in Variety, the 43rd edition of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF43) presented by Halekulani announced its jury winners and celebrated its Awards Gala Honorees at a private event held at the Halekulani Hotel. In its 2023 iteration, the organization awarded $23,500 in cash prizes to filmmakers across respective categories. HIFF43 HONOREES

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HIFF43’s LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL is a horror fan’s must-see

October 31, 1977. Johnny Carson”s rival Jack Delroy hosts a syndicated talk show ‘Night Owls’ that has long been a trusted companion to insomniacs around the country. A year after the tragic death of Jack’s wife, ratings have plummeted. Desperate to turn his fortunes around, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other, unaware he

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