Instagram Facebook Youtube Lucky Lu: Hope Springs Eternal for Immigrants in Lloyd Lee Choi Film Korean-Canadian writer and director Lloyd Lee Choi captures the duality of the immigrant experience in his debut feature film Lucky Lu, a participating film in HIFF’s New American Perspective Program. Set in present-day New York City, the film follows a […]
LUCKY LU: Hope Springs Eternal in Lloyd Lee Choi Film Read More »
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
Director Shih-Ching Tsou Debuts LEFT-HANDED GIRL at HIFF45 Read More »
The 2025 HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program, powered by Critical Minded, supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai‘i through mentorship and paid career opportunities. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden and strengthen film criticism culture in Hawaiʻi across a new media multi-disciplinary approach–via online (blog, magazine) review writing, but also via more prominent mediums such
Introducing the 2025 HOCCI Cohort Read More »
Korean cinema takes center stage this year with an exciting lineup featuring world and international premieres that demonstrate Korea’s unparalleled range and creativity. Leading the lineup is acclaimed auteur Park Chan-wook with NO OTHER CHOICE (어쩔수가없다), alongside Ra Hee-chan’s BOSS (보스) and Kim Mi-zo’s THE JOURNEY TO GYEONG-JU (경주기행). The program also includes Lee Hwan’s
HIFF45 Spotlight on South Korea Read More »
HIFF45 brings a stunning collection of European storytelling that spans from the landscapes of Italy to the stark beauty of Norway. France leads with two distinctive entries, the psychological mystery, A PRIVATE LIFE and the animated film, ARCO. The France-Spain co-production SIRÂT, set in Southern Morocco, bridges cultural borders. British cinema makes its mark with
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HIFF45 is excited to showcase a diverse selection of animated films from around the world. This year’s program features one of our most exciting animation lineups yet — a global and diverse showcase of films that premiered at major festivals like Cannes and Annecy. Featuring surreal sci-fi adventures and deeply personal stories, these films reveal how
HIFF45 Animated Storytelling from Around the World Read More »
HIFF45 is proud to showcase our selection of LGBTQIA+ film selections from international features from countries such as France, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Australia, with shorts from New Zealand, China, Taiwan, and Cambodia. We’re also excited to showcase shorts domestically from the United States and right here in Hawai’i. The LGBTQIA+ features and
Spotlight on Queer Films at HIFF45 Read More »
When the sun sets at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani, the real madness begins. This year’s Extreme and Midnight program dives headfirst into the wild, the weird, and the pulse-pounding. From blood-streaked vengeance to surreal comedy, these late-night gems are made for cinephiles who crave adrenaline and audacity. Leading the charge
HIFF Extreme Cinema: Shipwrecked samurai, desert rave fests gone wrong & J-horror 2.0 Read More »
SPOTLIGHT ON THE PHILIPPINES celebrates Filipino American History Month (FAHM)with a dynamic showcase of new cinema from the Philippines and across the Filipino diaspora. In partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), this HIFF45 section premieres world renowned films produced in the Philippines while honoring the rich diversity of voices that span
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SPOTLIGHT ON OKINAWA honors the enduring ties between Okinawa and Hawai‘i as we mark the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to the islands. This special Hawai‘i International Film Festival section presents three brand-new films—each making their International premiere—that showcase the rich culture, resilience, and contemporary voices of Okinawa. Celebrating shared history and deep community roots,
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