Based on Takashi Imashiro’s manga of the same name, GHOST CAT ANZU directed by Yôko Kuno & Nobuhiro Yamashita is a beautiful animated film that is a remarkable example of what is possible when excellent writing, directing, production, and performance all come together. GHOST CAT ANZU is Beautiful, but Boring The film’s production was tremendously […]
GHOST CAT ANZU: The Mundanity of Overcoming Grief Read More »
“I wish I could be as brave as you, Ms.” It’s remarkable how, even at our lowest, we can still be seen as strong, brave, and inspiring to others. In Miki Magasiva’s directorial debut, TINĀ, we are taken on a heartfelt journey that brings joy, laughter, and tears. The film follows the story of Mareta,
Finding strength in grief through TINĀ Read More »
Have you ever had to prove you were a human? In Victoria Warmerdam’s short film I’M NOT A ROBOT (2023), humanness is verified by the successful clearance of a CAPTCHA. With the goal to correctly identify an object like a car within a picture, these tests are meant to deter bots. As AI continues to
I’M NOT A ROBOT – What does it mean to be human? Read More »
DISCLAIMER: This piece discusses sensitive topics, including sexual assault and trauma. Reader discretion is advised. Survivors of sexual violence can have a positive impact by channeling their pain into purpose, as witnessed through the documentary BLACK BOX DIARIES. This self-directed documentary by Shiori Itō follows her pursuit for justice as a survivor. Others can be inspired
BLACK BOX DIARIES: A Japanese journalist empowers survivors Read More »
HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee Sho Araiba reviews BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017), the sequel to the science fiction classic, BLADE RUNNER (1982), discussing the sequel’s relevance seven years later. In this video review, he analyzes how cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins conveys the themes of identity and existential crisis through visual storytelling. He also
Did BLADE RUNNER 2049 change sci-fi 7 years later? Read More »
GRAFTED, the first narrative feature by New Zealand director Sasha Rainbow, draws connections between diaspora, belonging, and the contortions of conformity. Be sure to catch the US premiere and encore screening of GRAFTED on Saturday, October 12 at 9:15 PM and Sunday, October 13 at 8:30 PM. Sasha Rainbow’s feature debut, GRAFTED, is a striking
New American Perspectives: Sasha Rainbow’s GRAFTED Read More »
On August 8th, 2023, Hawai’i experienced one of the worst wildfires in US history. The fire destroyed the town of Lahaina, Maui, completely disrupting the lives of the communities who lived there. HEALING LAHAINA, a short documentary film by Laurel Tamayo, tells the story of Laurel’s family, who lost their multigenerational home in the 2023
Q&A with Laurel Tamayo, Director of HEALING LAHAINA Read More »
The Story of Honolulu Horror Nights Honolulu Horror Nights, a local non-profit organization on O’ahu, has quickly become a must-attend event for horror fans in Hawai’i. What started as a passion project by Steven Hobaica, a horror fanatic since childhood, has grown into a vibrant, inclusive community celebrating all things weird and macabre. Steven, a
HIFF’s Halloween Horror Lineup with Honolulu Horror Nights Read More »
I started the pandemic (remember those days?) determined to not let it get the best of me. I did work outs in my kitchen. Kept the fridge and pantry perfectly stocked. Dutifully stayed in my apartment, the cement walls giving a sense of safety, albeit loneliness. It would only be a few weeks…but weeks turned
BATTLE OF THE BINGE (Spoiler: the algorithm wins) with Ciara Lacy Read More »
Timothée Chalamet (pictured) as Paul Atreides Not even the dunes of Arrakis could smother the massive-scale retelling of Frank Herbert’s 1965 DUNE and psychedelic-inducing spice pales in comparison to the vision Denis Villeneuve achieves. But with that, we still have to ask: Is Dune a “white-savior” story? Note from the author: In an attempt
Notes on DUNE from a Native Hawaiian / by Kanani Lyons Read More »
With aloha, HIFF acknowledges its occupation of ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Indigenous Hawaiian people, the Kānaka Maoli.
With gratitude, we honor the ʻāina itself and the generations who steward it.