The HIFF ONLINE CREATORS & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program 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, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Officially launched in 2022 with ten young mentees, HOCCI is a reimagining of the former Roger Ebert Young Critics Initiative.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. In this video essay, HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee D’Elle Martin sits down and reviews 24 FLAVORS, the directorial debut of Chinese filmmaker Elaine Huang. 24 FLAVORS was inspired by Huang’s own family history, […]
24 FLAVORS | Video Essay Read More »
PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK premiered at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. Over the past two years, during Israel’s most recent genocidal campaign against the people of Gaza, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military, and 170,000 have been wounded, with 40,000 of those
PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK Review Read More »
A USEFUL GHOST premiered at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival. In this short form video review, HOCCI mentee Curtis Wilmington III talks about the absurd, yet multifaceted feature film, A USEFUL GHOST. This film was one of several film screenings for the HOCCI cohort this year, which featured extended discussions with guest film critics
Are All Ghosts Useful? A USEFUL GHOST REVIEW | Video Read More »
CLIMBING FOR LIFE premiered at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. CLIMBING FOR LIFE is a stunning Japanese film that dives into the life of Junko Tabei: the first woman to summit Mt. Everest. Directed by Junji Sakamoto, the film is based on the autobiography, Life with its Ups and Downs, written by
Reflecting on Relationships and Legacy with CLIMBING FOR LIFE Read More »
THE GOLDEN SPURTLE premiered at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. Where do I begin? Ah, the title! I must admit, before watching I had no idea what a spurtle was. An adorable creature came to mind. A quick Google search and seconds later I found out that a spurtle is a
THE GOLDEN SPURTLE – Who Said Porridge is Bland? Read More »
SHAKTI premiered at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. In this video, HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee D’Elle Martin sits down and reviews SHAKTI, a Nepalese feature film from director Nani Sahra Walker. This film was also part of New American Perspectives, a program sponsored by the Vilcek Foundation. SHAKTI
SHAKTI | Video Essay Read More »
FWENDS premiered at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. In this short form video review, HOCCI mentee Curtis Wilmington III shares his thoughts on the Australian film, FWENDS. This feature film was one of three assigned screenings for the HOCCI cohort this year, which featured extended discussions with guest film critics and
FWENDS Review | Video Read More »
HERO’S ISLAND premiered at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. HERO’S ISLAND, directed by Keishi Ohtomo, is an action-packed historical drama taking place during the U.S. occupation of Okinawa. A mystery unraveling over twenty years, three friends attempt to locate their leader as the film unveils the harsh realities of post-war Okinawa.
HERO’S ISLAND – A Peak into Okinawa’s Past Read More »
THE ARRANGEMENTS had its world premiere at the 45th Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani as part of the Made in Hawai‘i Shorts. A conversation with director Sonny Ganaden about community, grief, childhood, and making magic with non-actors. THE ARRANGEMENTS (2025) It was during the Made in Hawai‘i Shorts at HIFF when I came
A Conversation with Sonny Ganaden, Director of THE ARRANGEMENTS Read More »
THE EYES OF GHANA premiered at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani. THE EYES OF GHANA takes viewers on a visually striking journey through the rich and fascinating life of Reverend Chris Hesse, a Ghanaian filmmaker who served as the personal cameraman to Ghana’s first prime minister, Kwame Nkrumah. The film weaves several
Sankofa – An Exploration of THE EYES OF GHANA with Anita Afonu Read More »