Awards & Juries - HIFF45 | HIFF | Hawai'i International Film Festival

HIFF45 HONOREES & AWARDS

Presented by Halekulani

YURIYAN RETRIEVER

KENJI TANIGAKI

CHIEF OF WAR

Honoree Awards

Halekulani Vision in Film Award

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. Sometimes, the award is given to an organization for their incredible impact to cinema history. The Vision In Film has only been given seven times in HIFF’s forty-two year history. Past recipients include Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, and the American Film Institute (AFI).

PARK CHAN-WOOK

Born in Seoul, Park Chan-wook studied philosophy at Sogang University before beginning his career as a film critic and later transitioning to writing and directing. He debuted with THE MOON IS… THE SUN’S DREAM (1992) and went on to achieve international acclaim with JOINT SECURITY AREA (2000) and his groundbreaking “Vengeance Trilogy”: SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE (2002), OLDBOY (2003), and SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE (2005). His eclectic filmography includes I’M A CYBORG, BUT THAT’S OK (2006), THIRST (2009), STOKER (2013), THE HANDMAIDEN (2016), AND DECISION TO LEAVE (2022), which premiered in Official Selection at Cannes. His latest work, NO OTHER CHOICE (2025), continues to cement his reputation as one of world cinema’s most daring and influential auteurs.

HIFF LEANNE K FERRER TRAILBLAZER AWARD

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. This honoree is a true trailblazer, whose work aligns with PIC’s mission, which is to support, advance, and develop Pacific Island media content and talent that results in a deeper understanding of Pacific Island history, culture, and contemporary challenges. Past recipients include Taika Waititi, Heperi Mita on behalf of Merata Mita, Keala Settle and Kerry Warkia.

CHIEF OF WAR

HIFF and PIC are proud to honor the Kānaka Maoli and Pacific Islander creative team behind CHIEF OF WAR (Apple TV+) for their groundbreaking work in bringing an epic, big-budget series to the global stage. This empowering collective of above- and below-the-line leaders — including creator/showrunner Pa‘a Sibbett, creator/director/producer/star Jason Momoa, producers Brian Keaulana and Angela Laprete, alongside an extraordinary team of department heads and cultural advisors — has set a historic precedent. Together, they have fused cultural authenticity with sweeping cinematic storytelling, bringing Hawaiian history, language, and identity to the screen on a scale never before seen in film or television. Their achievement demonstrates that Indigenous stories and representation not only matter, but can thrive at the highest levels of production. In doing so, they are paving the way for future generations of Pacific Island filmmakers, ensuring that voices from Hawai‘i and across Oceania are celebrated worldwide.

HIFF45 HALEKULANI VANGUARD AWARD

HIFF’s Halekulani Vanguard Award is the Festival’s “rising star” award, honoring an innovator, who has catapulted so quickly into the cultural zeitgeist as an artist, an advocate and a role model. In this new age of streaming, where there is a need and desire to produce authentic storytelling and a drive to push for broader diversity above and below the line to properly reflect society today, the HIFF Vanguard honoree has navigated through the sea of content to rise above it all and leave an indelible mark on audiences, both young and old, around the globe. Past recipients included Lana Condor, Rachel Brosnahan and Sakura Ando.

YURIYAN RETRIEVER

Born in 1990 in Nara, Japan, Yuriyan Retriever is a celebrated Japanese comedian affiliated with Yoshimoto Kogyo, Japan’s largest entertainment company. Known for her English-language sketches, impersonations, and bold comedic style, she rose to national fame after winning the 2021 KTV R-1 Grand Prix, becoming Japan’s top solo comedian. Internationally recognized for her unforgettable performance on “America’s Got Talent” in 2019, she has since worked with global brands like Nike and KitKat, and expanded into acting, voice work, and rap music. In 2024, she starred in the hit global drama “The Queen of Villains” and relocated to Los Angeles. Her directorial debut MAG MAG, will be screening at HIFF45, a meta-take on classic J-horror, which is the first film of the new Japanese production company K2 Pictures, made up of directors Hirokazu Koreeda (Vision in Film Honoree, 2019), Takashi Miike, Shunji Iwai and others.

HIFF HALEKULANI 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. This maverick does things on their own terms, creating work that can have a rabid following to a mass appreciation in today’s pop culture. 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, Randall Park and Kevin Smith.

KENJI TANIGAKI

Kenji Tanigaki is a Japanese director, action director, and fight choreographer. From a young age, he was captivated by action cinema, and was particularly influenced by Hong Kong films. After training at the Kurata Action Club in Japan, he moved to Hong Kong to pursue his career. He became the only Japanese member of the Hong Kong Stuntman Association. Tanigaki has lived in Hong Kong for close to three decades and is fluent in Cantonese and proficient in Mandarin. His action choreography and stunt work has been seen in iconic Hong Kong martial arts action films like SPL, FLASH POINT, RAGING FIRE, and TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN. His work expanded in his native Japan and the US including the RUROUNI KENSHIN live action films and BLADE II. THE FURIOUS, a Hong Kong funded Pan Asian action film set in Thailand, world premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and is screening at HIFF45.

SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG FILMMAKER IN PROFILE

In this year’s Spotlight, it showcase the glimmer of Hong Kong’s glory days of the late 20th century as it goes through growing pains in the marketplace—audience’s evolving viewing consumption, cultural and economic shifts as Hong Kong reintegrates with Mainland China’s policies, and the continuing post-pandemic after effects. What is encouraging is the new crop of filmmakers and established stars continuing the retain the unique, local flavors of what makes Hong Kong, “Hong Kong.”

NINA PAW 鮑起靜

Nina Paw Hee-Ching (b. July 20, 1949) is one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished actresses, acclaimed for her rich and nuanced portrayals of mothers. Born into a cinematic family — daughter of the late actor Paw Fong and sister to Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau — she began acting in 1968 and rose to fame with WHITE HAIRED DEVIL LADY (1980). She later became a household name at Asia Television (ATV), starring in dramas like FATHERLAND and hosting AFTERNOON TEA.

Her career reached a pinnacle with Ann Hui’s THE WAY WE ARE (2008), which earned her Best Actress at both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. Since then, Paw has continued to impress in films including RIGOR MORTIS (2013), I’M LIVING IT (2020) and MY PRINCE EDWARD (2020). Paw also ventured into Korean cinema alongside Tang Wei in SCI-FI WONDERLAND (2024). With upcoming works MY FIRST OF MAY (2025) and SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (2025), she remains a vibrant force in Asian and Hong Kong cinema.

COMPETITION Awards

Made In Hawaii Film Awards

Presented by FilmHawaii with cash prizes made possible by the Nichols Family Film Fund

HIFF will present the eighth annual MADE IN HAWAI‘I FILM AWARD this year to continue our focus on the dynamic and flourishing local independent film scene that strives onward here in the Hawaiian Islands. Select fiction, non-fiction and short films that are made by locally-based filmmakers or involve locally-based stories are spread out throughout the 2025 film program to stand alongside works from around the world. HIFF’s decision to include this competition was an easy one, as the Festival has an illustrious history of providing a forum for Hawai‘i-made films for its 45 year history.

As the media landscape changes, along with the democratization of ‘filmmaking’ itself via digital technology, the rise of local cinema artists has drastically increased. At the same time, creative content produced by indigenous people around the world, including Native Hawaiians, is on the rise. With this in mind, the intent of the MADE IN HAWAI‘I FILM AWARD is to provide accolades to films that our esteemed jury feel offer significant representation of stories that authentically reflect the unique, yet universal experiences of ourselves.

HIFF Kau Ka Hōkū Award

PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

The KAU KA HŌKŪ (Shooting Star) Award presented by Hawaiian Airlines will be awarded to an emerging filmmaker (first or second feature film). Both fiction and non-fiction feature films may be nominated by the festival programmers and adjudicated by an international jury.

NOMINATED FILMS

A PARADISE LOST
Director: Laurie Sumiye

AINU PURI
Director: Takeshi Fukunaga

BEFORE THE BRIGHT DAY
Director: Shih-Han Tsao

BEFORE THE MOON FALLS
Director: Kimberlee Bassford

FOOD DELIVERY: FRESH FROM THE PHILIPPINE SEA
Director: Baby Ruth Villarama

FWENDS
Director: Sophie Somerville

KY NAM INN
Director: Leon Le

LEFT-HANDED GIRL
Director: Shih-Ching Tsou

LUCKY LU
Director: Lloyd Lee Choi

MAG MAG
Director: Yuriyan Retriever

NIKA AND MADISON
Director: Eva Thomas

ROSEMEAD
Director: Eric Lin

HIFF Best Short Film Award

PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

Short films help establish tone, style and a filmmaker’s creative vision to form the foundation of a budding career. These works can also be proof of concepts or progenitors to a feature film, but they must stand alone as their own succinct and unique work. It is always a welcome challenge by the HIFF team to sift through thousands of entries each year to curate these popular Shorts programs.

HIFF is one of a select few Academy Awards®-qualifying Festivals. The winning films in the HIFF Best Short Film and HIFF Best Made in Hawai‘i Short Film categories are eligible to qualify for the Oscars, provided that the films meet all the requirements set forth at www.oscars.org/rules.

HIFF Pasifika Award

PRESENTED BY PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN COMMUNICATIONS

HIFF in partnership with Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) presents a Pasifika Award for Best Feature Film celebrating the authentic and high quality narrative and documentary features across the Pacific region. This competition jury, comprised of film professionals of Pacific Islander descent, selects the best of films by and about Pacific Islanders. The winning film receives a cash prize of $5,000.

NOMINATED FILMS

A PARADISE LOST
Director: Laurie Sumiye

BEFORE THE MOON FALLS
Director: Kimberlee Bassford

INDIGENOUS NA‘AU
Director: Ku’ulei Ka’ili

KŌKĀ
Director: Kath Akuhata-Brown

MĀRAMA
Director: Taratoa Stappard

REMATHAU: PEOPLE OF THE OCEAN
Director: Daniel H. Lin

HIFF NETPAC Award

Presented by The Network For the Promotion Of Asia Pacific Cinema

The Network for the Promotion of Asian-Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) is an international organization dedicated to promoting Asian and Pacific film throughout the world. The NETPAC award is given at select international Festivals including Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Rotterdam, Busan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawaii – to promote Asian and Pacific cinema by spotlighting exceptional talent. HIFF is the only Film Festival in the USA given permission to present the NETPAC award.

HIFF Audience Choice Award

Presented by Hawaii News Now

Your Vote Counts! Vote for your favorite Feature, Documentary, Short and Student films playing at HIFF45!

Voting is accessible to all audiences via QR codes at screenings. Winning films are announced in a special Hawaii News Now broadcast following the completion of the full HIFF45 Festival.

NOMINATED FILMS: ALL HIFF45 Films, features and shorts, are eligible for HIFFxHawaii News Now Audience Choice Award!

HIFF45 JURIES

KAU KA HOKU JURY

Diane Quon

Diane Quon is an Academy Award-nominated producer who worked as a marketing executive at Paramount Pictures and NBC in LA before moving back to her hometown of Chicago. Diane has produced many documentaries including: Oscar and Emmy nominated, Peabody award-winning film, MINDING THE GAP (Hulu, POV); Emmy-nominated FINDING YINGYING (MTVDocs); Emmy-nominated WUHAN WUHAN (POV); 2022 Oscar-shortlisted BAD AXE (IFC FILMS); BREAKING THE NEWS (Indie Lens); AKA MR. CHOW (HBO) and THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME (Tribeca 2025). Diane is producing the upcoming documentary THE UNTITLED SAM PROJECT, and is also developing the fiction films KAMPUCHEA written and directed by David Siev (BAD AXE), as well as HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET based on a NYTimes bestseller. Diane is an Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences member, and a DPA and PGA member. She is the very proud mother of four.

Janica Chua

Janice Chua is a global film and TV producer who serves as co-founder of Third Culture Content. Chua was the vice president of the International Division at Imagine Entertainment, where she managed the development and production of local language content in international territories, including TAIWAN CRIME STORIES, which was nominated for twelve awards in Taiwan's Golden Bell and two awards in Busan's Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards. Prior to that, Chua was Vice President of Development and Production Asia at Ivanhoe Pictures, where she developed and packaged Chinese-language projects for China and Southeast Asia. Chua also served as one of the producers of CRAZY RICH ASIANS. Born and raised in Singapore, Chua started her career in China as an international film sales manager. She then became Director of International at Beijing Galloping Horse, overseeing international business and co-productions such as John Woo's THE CROSSING.

David Magdael

David Magdael is a veteran film publicist, strategist, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Public Relations Branch). As founder and president of David Magdael & Associates, he has spent over two decades championing diverse voices in independent, documentary, and international cinema. His campaigns have supported Academy Award® winners and nominees including 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL, THE LAST REPAIR SHOP, ASCENSION, THE ETERNAL MEMORY and THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL as well as acclaimed festival titles across Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, and Toronto. A leader in multicultural storytelling and industry advocacy, Magdael is recognized for amplifying underrepresented filmmakers worldwide and working together with new and veteran documentary creators.

PASIFIKA JURY

Heather Giugni

Heather Haunani Giugni is a filmmaker, producer, and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving and sharing Hawaiʻi’s stories. She founded ʻUluʻulu, the Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive at UH West Oʻahu, honoring her father’s legacy. For over 30 years, she has led Juniroa Productions, creating hundreds of films on Hawaiʻi’s people, history, and culture, including co-directing the award-winning UNDER A JARVIS MOON (2010). She also co-founded Rock Salt Media, producer of the award-winning series FAMILY INGREDIENTS. In 2023, Heather was honored by the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation as “Kama‘āina of the Year,” in recognition of her achievements in establishing ‘Ulu‘ulu.

Alika Tengan

Alika Tengan is a Native Hawaiian writer, director, and producer whose work foregrounds authentic stories from Hawaiʻi. Raised in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, he studied film at the University of Hawaiʻi, drawing inspiration from Indigenous cinema pioneers such as Merata Mita. His debut feature, EVERY DAY IN KAIMUKĪ (2022), made history as the first Native Hawaiian feature to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was praised for its intimate, ground-level portrait of contemporary Honolulu life. His follow-up feature, MOLOKAʻI BOUND (2024), expands on his award-winning short of the same name and further solidifies his voice as a vital storyteller. Tengan is recognized for pushing Native Hawaiian narratives onto mainstream platforms, contributing to a broader Indigenous cinematic movement while remaining deeply rooted in his community and culture.

Catherine Cruz

Catherine Cruz is the host of "The Conversation" and a member of Hawai‘i Public Radio's news team. She has been a television reporter in Hawaiʻi since 1983 and has won a number of awards and respect from a statewide audience. She spent more than 30 years at KITV, covering beats from government to education and health. Originally from Guam, Cruz is also a co-founder and former board member and programming chair of Pacific Islanders in Communication (PIC). Catherine is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in broadcast journalism.

MADE IN HAWAI‘I JURY

Jeff Chang

Jeff Chang is a writer, host, and cultural organizer known for his work in culture, politics, the arts, and music. His first book, "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation", was named by Slate as one of the best nonfiction books of the last quarter century. His cultural biography of Bruce Lee called "Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America" will be published on September 23, 2025. He is the host of the Signal Award-winning podcast on artists and ideas, Edge of Reason, produced by Atlantic: Rethink and Hauser & Wirth, and of Notes From the Edge, produced by KALW Public Media. Born of Chinese and Kanaka Maoli descent, Jeff is a graduate of 'Iolani School, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Los Angeles.

Kimee Balmilero

Filipino American and Hawai‘i-born actor, Kimee Balmilero, is best known for her role as Medical Examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha on CBS’s HAWAII FIVE-0 and MAGNUM P.I. Other credits include DOOGIE KAMEALOHA MD on Disney+, TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE on The Hallmark Channel, and the Original Broadway Cast of MAMMA MIA. Kimee was also cast opposite comedian Jo Koy in the ABC pilot JOSEP, playing his sister Geraldine in Josep – the first TV pilot by a major network to feature a Filipino American family. Since returning home, Kimee has launched several creative ventures, including The Hawai’i Comedy Festival, Improv Hawai’i, and Tiny Stage Hawai’i. IG handle @kimeebalmilero

Noah Evslin

Noah Evslin is a Kauai-born television writer and producer who has built a career telling character-driven stories across hit network series. He began in the Shondaland universe, working on GREY’S ANATOMY, PRIVATE PRACTICE, SCANDAL, and HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, before moving into staff roles on COLONY and HAWAI‘I FIVE-0. He was a writer-producer on NCIS: HAWAIʻI and contributed to the Fox series RESCUE: HI-SURF. He is a co-host of the podcast “Screaming Into The Hollywood Abyss,” where he sheds deep light on the intricacies of being a working screenwriter while also managing family, on-set duties, and much more. Noah lives in ʻEwa Beach with his wife and two kids.

BEST SHORT FILM JURY

Erin Lau

Native Hawaiian filmmaker Erin Lau has dedicated her life to creating stories for her community, exploring empathy, redemption, and legacy. She has grown through opportunities with the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Studios, Film Independent, Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative, and more. Her films have screened in over 50 festivals across the world and have been featured on the Criterion Channel, Netflix, and PBS. Notable directing works include THE MOON AND THE NIGHT, ALL I EVER WANTED, and INHERITANCE. Erin also directed for FOX’s RESCUE: HI-SURF and contributed to multiple award winning documentaries including STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

Megan Leonard

Megan Leonard is an award-winning creative producer and festival programmer based in Seattle. Leonard’s films have premiered at Sundance and SXSW, debuted on global streaming platforms Hulu and MUBI, and received five Vimeo Staff Picks. She is a Sundance Institute and Gotham alumni, a Webby Honoree, and has been featured in Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine. She started working for film festivals in 2010 and is currently a Senior Programmer at the Seattle International Film Festival. In 2024 she was awarded a Special Citation for her service to filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest from the Seattle Film Critics Association.

Marie Jamora

Born and raised in Manila, Marie Jamora was the Producer/Director on the UNT. AVA DUVERNAY PROJECT for Starz. Marie recently directed an episode of the MATLOCK reboot starring Academy Award and Emmy winner Kathy Bates, as well as GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES for Paramount+. Her short film, FLIP THE RECORD, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at Urbanworld and was shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards. Her other short film HARANA was made at AFI's Directing Workshop for Women and won the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Narrative Short at the Sarasota Film Festival. Her first feature, WHAT ISN'T THERE (ANG NAWAWALA), premiered at Slamdance is considered a cult classic coming of age film in the Philippines. Her TV directing credits include QUEEN SUGAR (OWN), THE CLEANING LADY (FOX), ALL RISE (OWN), THE RESIDENT (FOX), and both seasons of FIRE COUNTRY (CBS).

NETPAC JURY

Shirley Thompson

Shirley Thompson is a seasoned documentary producer, writer, editor and director, best known for the documentaries she has edited including BASEBALL BEHIND BARBED WIRE (2023), ISLAND COWGIRLS (2022), FINDING KUKAN (2016), PIDGIN: THE VOICE OF HAWAI‘I (2009) and SURFING FOR LIFE (2000). She co-produced and co-directed the REEL WĀHINE OF HAWAI‘I film series in collaboration with Hawai‘i Women in Filmmaking. Her producing and editing have been recognized with three Emmys and a Peabody award. A New Orleans native, she lives in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, working on films and mentoring emerging filmmakers. She is a proud, long-time member of the New Day Films collective. As a Latina and a daughter of immigrants, she is committed to filmmaking that builds bridges across cultures and communities.

Ida Anita del Mundo

Ida Anita del Mundo is a Filipino American filmmaker, writer, educator, and musician. She wrote and directed the feature film K’NA, THE DREAMWEAVER, which premiered at the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival (Manila, Philippines) where it received the awards for Best Production Design and Special Jury Prize. It is the first feature film about the Tboli people of South Cotabato, Mindanao and the first film that uses the Tboli language. It continues to be screened around the world. Ida holds an MFA in Creative Writing from De La Salle University-Manila and a Masters in Directing from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her latest short films NEVER FORGET (Best Ensemble, International Film Festival Manhattan; Best Screenplay, SVA Apple Box Film Festival) and ANNA, GRETA, SOPHIE, AND THE RAINFOREST (Best Narrative Short, Films for the Forest) have been shown in festivals worldwide. Ida is currently based in Brooklyn where she is a freelance filmmaker, editor, and graphic designer. She is also a documentary film instructor with the Educational Video Center.

Mary Kunmi Yu Danico

Mary Kunmi Yu Danico is a respected researcher and public scholar in the areas of Oral History, Ethnic Studies, Generations, Family,Asian American Studies, Korean Diaspora, Leadership Development, Student Success and Social Justice. She is the author of "The 1.5 Generation: Becoming Korean American in Hawaiʻi", "Transforming the Ivory Tower: Challenging Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia in Higher Education", "Asian American Issues", and editor of "Asian American Society: 4 volume Encyclopedia." She is invested in creating a culture of care and committed to restorative decolonization frameworks. She is the past president of the Association for Asian American Studies, Fulbright Senior Scholar, Fulbright Alumni Ambassador Emeritus, and is a professor emeritus of sociology at Cal Poly Pomona , and a Fulbright Specialist. Currently, she is the Director for the Center for Oral History and professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

HIFF45 HONOREES & AWARDS

Honoree Awards