Of all the films that I’ve seen at HIFF 44, one of these films that stood out amongst the rest was the animated short THE QUEENʻS FLOWERS. It is an Indigenous Hawaiian animation short directed by Ciara Leinaʻala Lacy. The film is based on a true story and takes place in 1915 Honolulu, it follows […]
THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS Review Read More »
If you want to watch a short film that is blunt, in-your-face, and smacks you out of nowhere, look no further than the short MANIFESTO [FOR CONCRETE POETRY], directed by Richard Hamasaki, Jody Stillwater & Sebastian Galasso. The imagery, editing combined with the avant-garde archival use of texture and imagery, bring to life the poem
As we go into our closing weekend at the Consolidated Kahala Theaters, here are some absolute ‘MUST-SEE’ films and events with many of them attached to filmmakers in attendance. First off, tickets are going fast with our added screenings of TINĀ (Opening Night) and MOLOKA‘I BOUND (Centerpiece), as well as more tickets released for HAKKENDEN:
HIFF44 Must-sees at Kahala Closing Weekend 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 »
The HIFF ONLINE CREATORS & 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 diversity in film criticism across the Pacific region and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in Hawai’i, not be hampered by oceans,
Introducing the 2024 HOCCI Cohort & Mentors Read More »
Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou, the duo behind popular video essay series EVERY FRAME A PAINTING, were early pioneers of the film analysis/video essay genre on YouTube. In 2014, they published their first video about Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER and the use of telephoto profile shots. With Tony responsible for principal research, writing, and editing, and
From EVERY FRAME A PAINTING to THE SECOND: Q&A with Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou Read More »
September 22, 2004 was the day when the ABC Network aired the pilot episode of LOST. Two decades since the groundbreaking series first captivated audiences with its blend of mystery, sci-fi, and human drama, LOST redefined television storytelling with its nonlinear narrative, deeply developed characters, and intricate plot twists. Set on a mysterious island after
Happy 20th Anniversary to LOST: A Look Back Read More »
The phrase “timing is everything” couldn’t relate better to the festival’s evening with SHŌGUN’s showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, who are this year’s HIFF44 Career Achievement Award honorees. Make sure to book your tickets for SHŌGUN – AN EVENING WITH SHOWRUNNERS JUSTIN MARKS & RACHEL KONDO, scheduled for October 11th at Consolidated Kahala. It
SHŌGUN makes history winning 18 Emmy Awards Read More »
Filmed over the course of five years, RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE is a powerfully directed and insightful documentary that follows the redevelopment of New Liberty Square, a $300 million mixed income public housing complex, which begins with the demolition of Liberty Square. Liberty Square is a historically Black neighborhood of Liberty City located in Miami, Florida
Portraying the Faces of the Climate And Housing Crises In RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE Read More »
HOCCI’s Sean Oketani sits down with Laurel Tamayo to discuss her short film, GEN Z MENTAL HEALTH: CLIMATE STORIES, which was a part of the official selection for HIFF43 in the Environmental Shorts Program. Here is the synopsis for the film: A short documentary that explores the mental health impacts of the climate crisis on
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With gratitude, we honor the ʻāina itself and the generations who steward it.