WOVEN is an indigenous short film directed by Vilsoni Hereniko and Alex Cantatore. It tells the story of an incident involving an indigenous basket weaver (played by Vilsoni Hereniko) trying to complete the traditional art of basket weaving but struggling to do so in a world where that custom is being forgotten. This film explores […]
Indigenous aesthetics through WOVEN Read More »
The VFX-heavy YIN YANG MASTER ZERO presents itself as an exhilarating roller coaster, topped with all the bells and whistles, but the ride itself may not be enjoyable for everyone. Although director Shimako Sato attempts to breathe new life into the historical characters, the high-fantasy elements and big budget do most of the heavy lifting
YIN YANG MASTER ZERO: The Battle Between 2001 and 2024 Read More »
Ever wondered what it felt like to be on the frontlines of Polynesian wartime? The latest of Māori magic to be showcased on the big screen is none other than KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END. This two-hour feature film reveals the true accounts of indigenous resistance in Aotearoa during the 1864 battle of Ōrākau.
Indigenous Resistance in KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END 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 »
From campy cult classics to heart-wrenching dramas,here are 11 queer films you can watch this Pride month. Throughout the process of curating this playlist, I quickly realized just how few queer movies I’ve actually seen. While I’m pretty well-versed in contemporary films, particularly ones that have drawn the most internet discourse, I’ve failed to dig
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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 »
The fragility of freedom of the press is at the forefront in the documentary feature BAD PRESS, which screened at this year’s Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF43). The unique precarity surrounding the issue is detailed onscreen as viewers follow Angel Ellis, a reporter for Mvskoke Media and part of the Muscogee Creek Nation, which is
Reflecting upon freedom of the press in BAD PRESS [Op-Ed] 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.
