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 […]
Lahaina doc UNCLE BULLY’S SURF SKOOL delivers message of hope Read More »
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
HIFF43 Announces Honorees & Jury Award Winners Read More »
Film Festivals are more than just a curated collection of film screenings. Over the years, HIFF has also expanded its panels, talk stories and education initiatives, as the Festival invests in the cultural and economical pathways to independent cinema and content creation in Hawai‘i. The goal, since HIFF’s inception in 1981, is to be a
HIFILM: The hub for Hawai’i’s industry professionals, creatives, and film fans Read More »
The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival is wrapping up this weekend and the HIFF programmers—Artistic Director, Anderson Le and Director of Programming, Anna Page—are wrapping up their annual programming trip. With numerous screenings and meetings with distributors and sales agents, it was a whirlwind ten days to seek out and secure the best in world cinema for the upcoming HIFF43 this coming
HIFF Programming Team Report From Cannes Film Festival Read More »
HIFF is thrilled to kick off the year with our 26th HIFF Spring Showcase presented by Halekulani with 20 feature films and 5 short films, all in-person at the Consolidated Kahala Theatres from March 31 through April 6. We are thrilled to open the Spring Showcase with the ‘hometown premiere’ of Justin Chon’s JAMOJAYA starring
HIFF SPRING SHOWCASE returns to 100% in-person | Gala Films: JAMOJAYA and SUZUME Read More »
Filled with insight and discovery, the Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to advancing understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America by presenting films from around the world. We hold two film festivals on the island of O‘ahu every year, with our HIFF Spring Showcase serving as a
2023 Spring Showcase Program Announced Read More »
HIFF is excited to announce the Hawai’i premiere of the Sundance hit POLITE SOCIETY, the feature directorial debut from Nida Manzoor (WE ARE LADY PARTS). Ria is a martial artist-in-training, who believes she must save her older sister from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, she tries to pull off the most
Sundance Hit: POLITE SOCIETY at HIFF Spring Showcase Read More »
>>SUBMIT YOUR FILM HERE<< Submissions are now open for HIFF43 Fall Festival in the following categories: Narrative Feature Documentary Feature Narrative Short Documentary Short Pacific Islander Showcase Features Pacific Islander Showcase Shorts New American Perspectives Made in Hawai‘i Features Made in Hawai‘i Shorts Environmental Shorts Hawai‘i University Student Late Deadline: July 7, 2023 Hawai‘i International Film
REMAINING DEADLINES FOR 43rd ANNUAL HIFF FALL FESTIVAL Read More »
HIFF’s Artistic Director, Anderson Le, is currently attending the Udine Far East Film Festival 25th edition, an annual film festival held in Udine, Italy, which promotes Asian Cinema in Europe focusing mainly on films from East Asia. In 2023, the festival celebrating its 25th anniversary edition from April 21 to April 29, will focus on
HIFF Programming Team Visiting European Festivals To Scout for Hidden Jems Read More »
The votes have been tabulated and the audience has spoken. The HIFF42 Audience Award winners were announced this morning live on Hawaii News Now Sunrise. Here are the HIFF42 Audience Award winners presented by Hawaii News Now. The following are the Audience Award Winners for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Film–and for the first time–Student
HIFF42 Audience Award Winners 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.