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Director Shih-Ching Tsou Debuts LEFT-HANDED GIRL at HIFF45

Instagram Facebook Youtube Celebrated director Shih-Ching Tsou debuts Left-Handed Girl at HIFF45 Shih-Ching Tsou is a master of filmmaking. Across her career, she has excelled as a screenwriter, director, producer, costume designer, production designer, actor, and editor. Tsou’s talents are apparent in her latest film, Left-Handed Girl, which Taiwan recently selected as its official entry […]

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Don’t Miss These Films at ʻŌpio Fest!

‘Ōpio Fest, Features, Film Festival News / By Guest Author

With the plethora of film releases happening every year, some films are unfortunately bound to not receive the recognition they deserve. Though contrasting in culture, influence, and medium, these films meet at the epicenter of a thoughtful story. The following films have traveled far and wide, some from the coveted Sundance Film Festival, others from

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TINĀ, A Return Home Through Spoilers

Features, HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By Guest Author

TINĀ was more than just a film for me. It felt like going home. I’ve probably started this a gazillion times because every time I try, I can’t control my tears. On HIFF’s opening night, I sat in the theater and watched a Samoan film. It had our language, our cheeky humor, our culture, our songs,

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The Journey of Creating TWO BREATHS

HIFF44, HOCCI / By Guest Author

TWO BREATHS, directed by Kateryna Kurganska, is one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking short films ever produced in Hawai’i. The film is a passion project and a dream many years in the making that has the “creative DNA” of nearly 200 different people. This article contains a full timeline of the creative process of the film

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SEOUL SWITCH and the Cost of Fame

HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By Guest Author

If you enjoy films that explore dual identities, such as THE PARENT TRAP (1998), THE HOT CHICK (2002), or even the television show HANNAH MONTANA, which plays with themes of identity exploration and social contrast, then SEOUL SWITCH is a must-add to your watchlist. This short film, just over 12 minutes, captures the fun and

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GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS – Power in reflection

HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By Guest Author

Reflecting what you don’t want to see. GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS (2024) depicts the complex relationship between mothers and daughters as a power struggle. Directed by Shuchi Talati, this coming of age piece centers around the exploration of self and awareness for others. Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) feels trapped under the stifling, attentive watch of her

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HIFF44 Vlog

Features, HIFF44, HOCCI / By Guest Author

In this vlog, join HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee Elise Hatsuko at the 44th annual Hawai’i International Film Festival. This vlog covers the Opening Night Gala at the Halekulani, the Meet the Filmmakers event at SHADE, the centerpiece film screening and cast panel for MOLOKA’I BOUND, and the Closing Ceremony at Romer

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An Unexpected New American: a Samurai in HIFF

HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By Guest Author

A samurai who time-travels to modern-day Japan has to learn to become a fake samurai in a TV period drama. You will love A SAMURAI IN TIME, a well-thought-out indie comedy that achieved huge success in Japan and is now circulating through international film festivals (you can see how “indie” this film is when you

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MOLOKA’I BOUND: The journey from short to feature

HIFF44, HOCCI, Reviews / By Guest Author

This year at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, I watched some of the best films in indigenous cinema and representation of the local community here in Hawaiʻi. HIFF44 featured the premiere of its centerpiece presentation, Alika Tengan’s MOLOKA’I BOUND. I had been anticipating this film since seeing the original short a few years ago. Before

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Burning bright in the middle of the blue (HOCCI Reflections)

HIFF44, HOCCI, Op-Ed / By Guest Author

It’s as if I flew through a portal into another world I hadn’t dared to step into. People have told me over the years I could be an actor, my English teacher in middle school, Dan Lauria, too. But even though it seemed exciting, something in me swept it away, as if it were something

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Director Shih-Ching Tsou Debuts LEFT-HANDED GIRL at HIFF45

Don’t Miss These Films at ʻŌpio Fest!

TINĀ, A Return Home Through Spoilers

The Journey of Creating TWO BREATHS

SEOUL SWITCH and the Cost of Fame

GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS – Power in reflection

HIFF44 Vlog

An Unexpected New American: a Samurai in HIFF

MOLOKA’I BOUND: The journey from short to feature

Burning bright in the middle of the blue (HOCCI Reflections)

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