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.
I’m notorious for talking myself out of rooms before I’ve even gotten out of bed. And there in bed I sat, slouched over my HOCCI application in the middle of my inner saboteur’s best speech: I am a film noob. What position was I in to critique it? As it turns out, the perfect position. […]
Get in the car, we’re going critiquing Read More »
Based on Takashi Imashiro’s manga of the same name, GHOST CAT ANZU directed by Yôko Kuno & Nobuhiro Yamashita is a beautiful animated film that is a remarkable example of what is possible when excellent writing, directing, production, and performance all come together. GHOST CAT ANZU is Beautiful, but Boring The film’s production was tremendously
GHOST CAT ANZU: The Mundanity of Overcoming Grief Read More »
“I wish I could be as brave as you, Ms.” It’s remarkable how, even at our lowest, we can still be seen as strong, brave, and inspiring to others. In Miki Magasiva’s directorial debut, TINĀ, we are taken on a heartfelt journey that brings joy, laughter, and tears. The film follows the story of Mareta,
Finding strength in grief through TINĀ Read More »
Have you ever had to prove you were a human? In Victoria Warmerdam’s short film I’M NOT A ROBOT (2023), humanness is verified by the successful clearance of a CAPTCHA. With the goal to correctly identify an object like a car within a picture, these tests are meant to deter bots. As AI continues to
I’M NOT A ROBOT – What does it mean to be human? Read More »
DISCLAIMER: This piece discusses sensitive topics, including sexual assault and trauma. Reader discretion is advised. Survivors of sexual violence can have a positive impact by channeling their pain into purpose, as witnessed through the documentary BLACK BOX DIARIES. This self-directed documentary by Shiori Itō follows her pursuit for justice as a survivor. Others can be inspired
BLACK BOX DIARIES: A Japanese journalist empowers survivors Read More »
HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee Sho Araiba reviews BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017), the sequel to the science fiction classic, BLADE RUNNER (1982), discussing the sequel’s relevance seven years later. In this video review, he analyzes how cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins conveys the themes of identity and existential crisis through visual storytelling. He also
Did BLADE RUNNER 2049 change sci-fi 7 years later? 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 »
HOCCI’s Olivia Trice interviews Darieus Legg, the artist behind HIFF43’s key art visual and main trailer artist. Darieus’ style was inspired by his love of manga and anime (Katsuhito Otomo and Osamu Tezuka) and his philosophy of “being stoked” as a lifelong surfer, born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. In addition, he
HIFF TALKS PODCAST: Interview with Darieus Legg, HIFF43 Key Visual Artist 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 »
Although there have been countless romantic movies set in New York City over the years, Mabel Cheung’s AN AUTUMN’S TALE tells a less conventional story by focusing on immigrants in Chinatown. Released in 1987, the movie follows a young woman from Hong Kong who finds comfort, companionship, and belonging in an unlikely person who helps
AN AUTUMN’S TALE Review 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.
