hiff x bmw hawaii
Driven Student Filmmaker Award and Scholarship
Presented by BMW Hawaii
Uplifting the Next Generation of Local Filmmakers
HIFF44 UNIVERSITY SHOWCASE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2024, 8:30PM
CONSOLIDATED THEATRES KAHALA
HIFF and BMW HAWAII are thrilled to announce the second edition of this award that’s dedicated to celebrating and supporting local college student filmmakers. Films in the HIFF44 University Showcase are eligible for the “best student film” and one filmmaker will be presented with the HIFFxBMW HAWAII DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD and cash scholarship at HIFF.
2023 HIFFxBMW HAWAII DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD
At HIFF43, the Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF selected KUNYARI, directed by Justin Gerald Ocampo, a recent graduate of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa School of Cinematic Arts, for the inaugural HIFFxBMW Hawaii Driven Student Filmmaker Award and cash scholarship.
The committee felt that the film offered an intimate perspective into love and longing, as well as cultural themes of duty and the importance of family. The jury adds “Its strong aesthetic choices, well-written characters, and dreamy cinematography create a genuine and refreshing portrayal of Filipino culture. In a time of divisiveness, this story highlights love in all of its forms through an underrepresented lens.”
The Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF also granted GOING UP? and PIDGIN KAUA’I STYLE each an Honorable Mention for their representation of local culture in Hawaii that connects to audiences across the islands. The heartwarming animated film GOING UP directed by Dillon Valenzuela, artfully showcases the Aloha spirit through its strong visual choices and thoughtful storytelling. The short documentary PIDGIN KAUA’I STYLE, directed by Erica Byers, presents a new take on the pidgin language by capturing a genuine conversation between local wahine, illustrating how language brings people from diverse communities together.