In this vlog, join HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) mentee Elise Hatsuko at the 44th annual Hawai’i International Film Festival. This vlog covers the Opening Night Gala at the Halekulani, the Meet the Filmmakers event at SHADE, the centerpiece film screening and cast panel for MOLOKA’I BOUND, and the Closing Ceremony at Romer House Waikiki with the creators of SHŌGUN. Dive into the culture, storytelling, and creative energy that make HIFF a remarkable celebration of cinema in Hawai‘i.
Elise Hatsuko Kaneshiro is the founder of an online platform that helps people live healthy, thriving, and inspired lives. With a background in policy advocacy, Elise is passionate about storytelling, thought leadership in film, and socially conscious film critique. A former fellow of Hawai’i Women in Filmmaking’s Wāhine in Film Lab in 2022, she is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of creators and driving impactful conversations in film.
The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program supports sustainable film criticism in Hawaiʻi through mentorship and paid career opportunities for Hawaiʻi-based AANHPI critics. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities. The 2024 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.
