Featured articles, opinion pieces and reviews by select HIFF staff, interns and content providers.
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 »
At HIFF, our volunteers are the backbone of the festival, and with their help, we’re able to bring together filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts from all around the world. In this short Q&A, meet Volunteer Coordinator Adrienne Wilson and Volunteer Assistant Kenna Tanouye as they talk about what goes on behind the scenes in shaping
Meet HIFF44’s Volunteer Team Read More »
As the 8th anniversary of Disney’s MOANA approaches, HIFF is honored to host directing duo Ron Clements and John Musker, along with producer Osnat Shurer. Ron and John have directed beloved Disney films such as THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN, HERCULES, and THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG. They worked with some of Walt Disney’s core animators
Q&A with MOANA’s Ron Clements, John Musker, and Osnat Shurer Read More »
We are so pleased with the support HIFF44 has been getting this month, and because of that, three of films are getting additional screenings and ticket sales by popular demand: Sunday, Oct. 13 TINĀ HIFF44 Opening Night Film, TINĀ, will be shown again after its triumphant opening night screening, this time at 3:30 PM MOLOKA’I
Sold-out HIFF44 Films Get Additional Screenings (TĪNA, MOLOKA’I BOUND, HAKKENDEN) Read More »
HIFF44 is here! With a record number of shorts this year – a whopping 18 shorts programs! As an oscar-qualifying festival for short films, the competition is mighty and sometimes we have to add a few more programs due to the overwhelming amount of fantastic film submissions. We have some really incredible titles this season,
International Shorts Program at HIFF44 Read More »
The 2024 Festival showcases another banner line-up of films by women and female driven stories. Particularly films that illustrate depth, nuance, and complexity in the depiction of female characters and storylines. Check out this exciting line-up of narrative features from rising female directors. All of these women present their first or second features at HIFF
Female-led Stories Shine at HIFF44 Read More »
Next week, HIFF44 kicks off at the start of October, just in time for Honolulu Pride, which takes place at the end of the month. 2024 has been an incredible year for queer cinema, as Hollywood, popular culture, and the film industry have been increasingly recognizing the value and importance of LGBTQIA+ filmmakers, characters, and
Spotlight on Queer Voices and Perspectives at HIFF44 Read More »
HIFF is privileged once again this year to have a group of distinguished jurors who will choose the winners in the several categories in competition. Let’s meet three of them. Jason Ishikawa A juror for the category of Best Short Film Award presented by Hawaiian Airlines, Jason Ishikawa comes back to his island home to
Meet Some of HIFF44’s Jury Members Read More »
The subtitle of HIFF’s HOMEGROWN shorts program is a very telling one: “A Part Of/Apart From.” Chloe Walters-Wallace, director of regional initiatives for Firelight Media, who produced this program, said “In commissioning these eight documentary short films for the collection, … we hope to shed light on the perspectives and experiences of the residents and
HOMEGROWN Shorts Program: Negotiating Identities in US Territories 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.
