The 44th edition of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF44) presented by Halekulani announced its jury winners and celebrated its Awards Gala Honorees at a private event held at the Halekulani Hotel. In its 2024 iteration, the organization awarded $25,000 in cash prizes to filmmakers across respective categories.
KAU KA HŌKŪ AWARD
The Kau Ka Hōkū (Shooting Star) Award presented by Hawaiian Airlines is awarded to an international emerging filmmaker (first or second feature film). Both fiction and non-fiction feature films are nominated by the festival programmers and adjudicated by an international jury.
This year’s Kau Ka Hōkū Award grand jury award winner is MOLOKA‘I BOUND directed by Alika Tengan. Fresh out of a multi-year stint in prison, Kainoa returns to his family hoping to reconnect with his adolescent son, rekindle things with his ex, and reintegrate into his native culture. But old habits die hard. The film is an astute and sober look at family dynamics, the impacts of colonization, and father-and-son relationships while navigating contemporary Native Hawaiian identity.
The jury shared “We were able to feel the director’s heart, their affection for their characters, and their power to make us believe in this film and their vision. For that reason, we were drawn to the talent and voices behind this film and its portrayal of the reality and spirit of the region in which it was produced, the nuances of the culture and issues it focused on, and its showcase of the best of the up-and-coming developments of the local film scene in which it is a part of.”
The 2024 KAU KA HŌKŪ AWARD Jurors are: Adam Piron, the Director of Indigenous Program, Sundance Institute; Brian Newman, Founder, Sub-Genre; Chilin Kwon, Acting Director, Incheon Film Commission
NETPAC AWARD
The Network for the Promotion of Asian-Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian and Pacific film throughout the world. The prestigious NETPAC award is given at select international film festivals to promote Asian and Pacific cinema by spotlighting exceptional works and discovering new talent. The NETPAC award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Rotterdam, Busan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawai’i. HIFF is the only film festival in the United States granted permission to present the NETPAC award.
The 2024 NETPAC/USA Award Winner is SISTER MIDNIGHT directed by Karan Kandahari; A genre-bending comedy about a frustrated and misanthropic newlywed who discovers certain feral impulses that land her in unlikely situations. The Jury awarded the film “for the director’s unique approach, using playful humor and colorful stylized vitality, coupled with Radhik Apte’s standout performance, distinguishes it from other films addressing the injustice of gender and social hierarchies.”
The NETPAC Jury also awarded an Honorable Mention to Aotearoa, New Zealand production KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END directed by Mike Jonathan.
The 2024 NETPAC Jurors are: Crystal Kwok, Professor, University of Hong Kong; Jeannette Paulson-Hereniko, President/Producer, Te. Maka Productions, HIFF Founding Director; Mark Schilling, Journalist, “The Japan Times”
PASIFIKA AWARD
HIFF partnered with Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) to present the Pasifika Award for Best Feature Film. The 2024 Pasifika Award Winner and recipient of $5,000 cash prize is WE WERE DANGEROUS directed by Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu. Nellie, Daisy and Lou attend an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954 New Zealand. The trio rail against the system, finding strength in their friendship.
The jury stated: “ Set against the backdrop of colonialism, misogyny, and institutional abuse, this film reminds us of the strength and joy that can be found in the bonds between women. It is a story of courage, rebellion, but above all, hope. A story that resonates far beyond its time and place and is a monument to all who have ever worn the weight of oppression yet dared to rise above it.”
The Pasifika Jury also awarded an Honorable Mention to Hawai‘i documentary production STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS directed by Jalena Keane-Lee.
The 2024 Pasifika Jurors are: Luciane Buchanan, Actor, THE NIGHT AGENT (Netflix), upcoming CHIEF OF WAR (Apple TV+); Bryson Chun, Screenwriter, “Doogle Kamealoha MD” (Disney+), MOANA 2; Lisette Marie Flanary, Professor, University of Hawai‘i School of Cinematic Arts, Filmmaker (AMERICAN ALOHA, ONE VOICE)
HIFF BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
This year was significant for HIFF, having received a record of short film submissions, numbering over 2,000 and is designated as a festival of discovery for Asian-Pacific, locally-produced, and Kānaka Maoli cinema.
The HIFF44 Best Short Film Award winner, also Academy Award® qualifying for short film, is CHAMORU: A LOST LANGUAGE directed by Brian Muna. In this search for self-identity, Muna examines his culturally American upbringing and the importance of passing on the CHamoru language to his sons. Along the way, he meets CHamoru language advocates and youth who are revitalizing their Indigenous language, giving him hope for future generations of CHamoru speakers. The film is a production of Firelight Media and a part of “Homegrown: A Part Of/Apart From.”
The jury shared: “The power of language to connect us to our shared history, culture, and identity is explored in this moving documentary. We see how, through forced assimilation, so much has been lost over time by the presence of colonial institutions while also being inspired by the resilience of indigenous communities and their continuing efforts to protect and educate future generations.”
The Shorts Jury also awarded an Honorable Mention to TALK TO ME (Japan) directed by Jimmy Ming Shum.
The 2024 HIFF Short Film Jurors are: Kainoa Rodolfo, Program Manager, Pacific Islanders in Communications; Jason Ishikawa, Senior Executive, Co-Head of Sales, Cinetic Media; Huang Yi-Yu, Executive Director, Cinema At Sea-Okinawa Pan-Pacific Film Festival
MADE IN HAWAI‘I FILM AWARDS
Now in its eighth year, the Made in Hawai‘i Film awards focus on the dynamic and flourishing local independent film scene that strives onward in the Hawaiian Islands. Fiction, Non-fiction and short films that are made by locally-based filmmakers or involve locally-based stories are eligible for the Best Made In Hawai‘i Award. which comes with cash prizes supported by the Nichols Family Film Fund. To date HIFF has awarded $70,000 in cash prizes to the local filmmaking community through the Made in Hawaii Award. The HIFF Made in Hawai‘i film program is supported by Hawai‘i State Film Office and Nichols Film Fund. All films are eligible to be showcased on Hawaiian Airlines as part of HIFF’s ongoing in-flight programming.
The Made In Hawai‘i program told a range of stories, reflecting the diversity of talents and perspectives coming out of Hawai‘i. This year’s Best Made In Hawai‘i Feature winner was split to two winners. “We were astounded by the quality of films in narrative, documentary, animation & experimental films. Essential themes that resonate locally and internationally,” shared the Jury.
“The Best Documentary is a film that made us laugh, it made us cry but most of all it made us incredibly proud of powerful mana wahine standing strong, at the forefront of such an important kaupapa. The Best Made in Hawai’i Documentary Feature goes to STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS… Even after splitting this category into two, the competition was fierce for the Best Narrative, Made in Hawai’i. We had an incredibly difficult time selecting tonight’s final honoree. It was a true testament to the passion, creativity, and talent thriving in Hawaiʻi’s filmmaking community. Mahalo to every local filmmaker—your work inspires us, elevates our mo’olelo, and makes Hawaiʻi proud. The award for Best Narrative, Made in Hawaiʻi, goes to MOLOKA‘I BOUND.”
The Made In Hawai‘i jury also recognized THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS directed by Ciara Lacy for Made In Hawai‘i Best Short Film. Under HIFF’s designation as an Academy Award® qualifying festival for short films, THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS is eligible to qualify.
The 2024 HIFF Made In Hawai‘i Jurors are: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, screenwriter LILO & STITCH (2025); Vea Mafile’o, producer-director (THE PANTHERS, LEA TUPU’ANGA / MOTHER TONGUE); Keoni DeFranco, Managing Director of Mālama Studios at Purple Maiʻa Foundation
HIFF x BMW DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD
The HIFF BMW DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD is dedicated to celebrating and supporting a local Hawai‘i university student filmmaker. HIFF’s Student Filmmaker Committee, made up of students across the state, were given the opportunity to curate the HIFF44 University Showcase from over 60 submissions, and select the ‘best short film’ the Program. The BMW HAWAII DRIVEN STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD includes a $3,000 cash prize in sponsorship of continued film education, made possible by BMW Hawaii.
The Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF selected STITCHES, directed by Alexander Cleary, “for its complex themes, worldbuilding, and sheer innovation and technical execution in combining various media. A wonderful blend of humor, heartbreak, and family, STITCHES provides audiences with an intimate perspective into biracial identities and multicultural families. Deeply relevant in the world today, the story is both a wonderful form of entertainment while also being didactic.”
The Student Filmmakers Committee at HIFF also granted WHERE DO BUTTERFLIES GO WHEN THEY DIE? directed by Steven Loya Montoya and ANXIOUS Josiah Castillo each an honorable mention.
HIFF44 HONOREES
Each year the HIFF Awards Gala Honorees are celebrated outstanding artists for their commitment to excellence in their field. For 2024, we celebrated film & tv luminaries that chronicles the American experience, catapulted Asian and Pacific Islander stories to the mainstream and around the world with the following honorees:
HIFF44 HALEKULANI VISION IN FILM AWARD – STANLEY NELSON
Stanley Nelson is the foremost chronicler of the African American experience working in nonfiction film today. His documentary films combine compelling narratives with rich and deeply researched historical detail, shining new light on both familiar and under-explored aspects of the American past. Nelson founded Firelight Films, a production company and non-profit that produces documentary films, develops strategies, partnerships, and materials to reach and engage diverse audiences. Select filmography: WOUNDED KNEE (2009); THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION (2015); MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF COOL (2019); SAN JUAN HILL: MANHATTAN’S LOST NEIGHBORHOOD (2024).
The Halekulani Vision In Film Award is the apex of our honoree distinctions. It is given to a film professional who has consistently been at the top of their game, considered as one of the global cinema innovators of our time. Past recipients include Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ang Lee, and Zhang Yimou.
HIFF44 HALEKULANI CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD — JUSTIN MARKS & RACHEL KONDO (SHŌGUN)
Justin Marks is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter (TOP GUN:MAVERICK) and Television Creator and Executive Producer. Rachel Kondo was born and raised on Maui. Her writing has appeared in Electric Literature, Ploughshares Solos and Indiana Review. In 2019, her story “Girl of Few Seasons” was included in The O. Henry Prize Stories and selected as a juror favorite by Elizabeth Strout. Both Marks and Kondo co-created FX television production of SHŌGUN, adapted from the novel by James Clavell, which became the most lauded TV series of the year, garnering a record 25 Emmy nominations and winning 18 including Best Acting leads for Hiroyuki Sanada and Ana Sawai, the first Emmy winners of Asian descent to win the highly coveted award in television history.
The HIFF Golden Maile Award for Career Achievement is bestowed to an artist who has reached the career pinnacles very few have achieved via industry awards and accolades and a body of work that is known globally. Past recipients include Masato Harada, Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson, and Maggie Cheung.
HIFF44 HALEKULANI MAVERICK AWARD — CHARLES YU & INTERIOR CHINATOWN
The upcoming Hulu/20th television series INTERIOR CHINATOWN (all episodes debut November 19th on Hulu) was honored with this year’s Maverick Award. Based on Charles Yu’s award-winning book of the same name, the show follows the story of Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), a background character trapped in a police procedural called “Black & White.” Relegated to the background, Willis goes through the motions of his on-screen job, waiting tables and dreaming about a whole world beyond Chinatown. When he inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, Willis begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, his family’s buried history, and what it feels like to be in the spotlight. The Festival screened the first episode, directed by HIFF alum and honoree Taika Waititi. Creator and showrunner Charles Yu, along with stars Yang, Chloe Bennet and Ronny Cheng, were presented with the HIFF44 Maverick Award.
The Halekulani Maverick Award is given to an international cinema artist who has a unique and eclectic career trajectory, contributing to international cinema arts in an innovative way. Like a trendsetter and tastemaker, their work may not have been appreciated early on, but has become an artistic benchmark. Past recipients include Awkwafina, Tadanobu Asano, Taika Waititi and Kevin Smith.
HIFF44 LEANNE K. FERRER TRAILBLAZER AWARD PRESENTED BY PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN COMMUNICATIONS – TEMUERA MORRISON
New Zealand born Temuera Morrison, a multi-faceted entertainer, has long been an international cultural icon; not only as one of the nation’s foremost actors but as a leading proponent of Māori culture and performance. His career breakthrough came in 1994, playing Jake “The Muss” Heke in the groundbreaking movie ONCE WERE WARRIORS. Some of Temuera’s most iconic roles include Jango Fett and Boba Fett of the Star Wars Universe, Chief Tui in Disney’s MOANA and upcoming MOANA 2, and Tom Curry in the Aquaman movies. He co-starred in KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END, which broke box office records in New Zealand this past summer.
Presented by Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), the HIFF Leanne K. Ferrer Trailblazer Award is given to a cinema artist of Pacific Islander heritage who broadens the scope of Pacific Islander stories onto the world stage, producing award winning work in independent and global cinema. Past recipients include Heperi Mita on behalf of Merata Mita, Keala Settle, Kerry Warkia, and Cliff Curtis.
HIFF44 SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG FILMMAKER — SANDRA NG
Award-winning actor Sandra Ng is a mainstay of Hong Kong cinema, from her iconic comedic performances reaching back to the 1980s through to more serious roles and recent work as a director and producer. A household name as Hong Kong’s ‘Queen of Comedy’, her films have been consistent box-office smashes throughout the decades, in both Hong Kong and China, and her versatility has also been recognized at the Golden Horse and Hong Kong film awards for her powerhouse dramatic performances. In 2022, Ng made history as the first Hong Kong actress to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
Presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco (HKETO-SF) and the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of Hong Kong (CCIDAHK), the Hong Kong Filmmaker in Profile honors a luminary that has contributed to the rich history of the Hong Kong film industry. Past honorees were Simon Yam, Ann Hui, John Woo, Stanley Kwan, Daniel Wu, and Wong Kar Wai.
Kau Ka Hōkū Award:
- Kau Ka Hōkū Grand Jury Award: MOLOKA‘I BOUND (Directed by Alika Tengan)
Shorts Jury Awards:
- HIFF Best Short Film Award: CHAMORU: A LOST LANGUAGE (Directed by Brian Muna
- Honorable Mention: TALK TO ME (Directed by Jimmy Ming Shum)
Pasifika Awards:
- Best Feature Film: WE WERE DANGEROUS (Directed by Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu)
- Honorable Mention: STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS (Directed by Jalena Keane-Lee)
NETPAC Award:
- Best Feature Film: SISTER MIDNIGHT (Karan Kandahari)
- Honorable Mention: KA WHAWHAI TONU: STRUGGLE WITHOUT END (Directed by Mike Jonathan)
Made in Hawai‘i Jury Awards:
- Best Narrative Feature: MOLOKA‘I BOUND (Directed by Alika Tengan)
- Best Documentary Feature: STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS (Directed by Jalena Keane-Lee)
- Best Made in Hawai‘i Award Short: THE QUEEN’S FLOWERS (Directed by Ciara Lacy)
BMW Driven Student Award:
- STITCHES (Directed by Alexander Cleary)
- Honorable Mention: WHERE DO BUTTERFLIES GO WHEN THEY DIE? (Directed by Steven Loya Montoya)
- Honorable Mention: ANXIOUS (Directed by Josiah Castillo)
HIFF44 Awards Gala Honorees:
- Halekulani Vision In Film Award: Stanley Nelson
- Halekulani Career Achievement Award: Justin Marks & Rachel Kondo & SHŌGUN
- Halekulani Maverick Award: Charles Yu & INTERIOR CHINATOWN
- Leanne K. Ferrer Trailblazer Award Presented By Pacific Islanders In Communications: Temuera Morrison
- SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG Filmmaker In Profile: Sandra Ng
