‘ŌPIO FEST SPECIAL GUESTS
VIP Filmmakers, Panelists & Jurors
ANDREW AHN
ACM Accelerator Filmmaker in Profile
ANDREW AHN is a queer Korean American filmmaker born and raised in Los Angeles. Ahn’s latest feature, THE WEDDING BANQUET, premiered at Sundance and is HIFF’s Opening Night film at ‘Ōpio Fest. Ahn has directed fiction and documentary television for Netflix, FX, HBO Max, CBS, and the Sundance Channel. He has promoted diversity in the arts by mentoring youth filmmakers through programs like Pacific Arts Movement’s Reel Voices, Outfest’s OutSet, and the Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmaker Lab. He graduated from Brown University and received an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
Opening Night FiLm
THE WEDDING BANQUET
HAWAIʻI PREMIERE
UNITED STATES | ENGLISH | 102M
DIRECTOR: Andrew Ahn
From Director Andrew Ahn comes a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations. Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee’s expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min’s grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet. Starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung, THE WEDDING BANQUET is a poignant and heartfelt reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive.
GRACE LEE
HIFILM Featured Director
GRACE LEE’s career began with a passion for uncovering untold stories, often centering on Asian American experiences, politics, and social justice. From her early work THE GRACE LEE PROJECT, which playfully examines the cultural assumptions behind her common name, to AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS, an intimate portrait of the legendary activist, her films consistently challenge narratives and elevate underrepresented voices. In her latest film, and HIFF’s Closing Night Film, FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG, she turns the cameras to the BTS fans aka Army, and the impact that this global fandom has had for their love of K-pop. Grace is also a co-founder of A-DOC, a national network that works to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field.
Closing Night Film
FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG
HAWAI’I PREMIERE
SOUTH KOREA | KOREAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES | 92M
DIRECTOR: Grace Lee, Patty Ahn
From Seoul to Los Angeles, Texas to Mexico City, BTS ARMY is everywhere. FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG dives into the passionate fandom that catapulted the K-pop band BTS into a global household name. We meet fans at a BTS-focused ReactorCon in Lewisville, Texas, a dance teacher in Seoul that only teaches BTS choreography, and fans who’ve been organizing since 2013 to help BTS conquer the charts. Defying the stereotypes of pop fans, ARMY has evolved into an intergenerational, culturally savvy, and politically active movement that is as diverse as the world itself. FWAY captures the powerful spirit of activism and collectivity that make ARMY a symbol of hope and unity in our ever-fractured world.
The Documentary Vision of Grace Lee – From Storytelling to Impact
Filmmaker Panel | 12-APR, 11:30 AM
Join us for an insightful discussion on the acclaimed documentary filmmaker Grace Lee, exploring her journey into filmmaking, the compelling subjects she chooses, and the evolving landscape of the documentary marketplace. Be sure to check out her latest documentary film FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG, HIFF’S Closing Night Film.
DISNEY’S
LILO & STITCH
DKII Youth Ambassadors
Youth Ambassadors will share invaluable advice with rising filmmakers and emerging talents at HIFF’s Future Filmmakers Awards Ceremony, made possible through our partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye Institute. They’ll also light up the stage with an exciting public panel discussion, inspiring the next generation of storytellers!
SYDNEY AGUDONG
SYDNEY ELIZEBETH AGUDONG is an actress, singer, and professional songwriter, born and raised on the island of Kaua’i, Hawai’i. After graduating high school, Sydney moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for acting and singing. Sydney stars as the beloved character of ‘Nani Pelekai’ in Disney’s live action film reimagining of LILO & STITCH, scheduled to be released exclusively in theaters worldwide Memorial Day weekend on May 23, 2025.
KAIPO DUDOIT
KAIPO DUDOIT, a Native Hawaiian actor, hula dancer, and model, plays ‘David Kawena’ in LILO & STITCH. He has also appeared in MY PARTNER and Magnum P.I. Born and raised on O‘ahu, Kaipo is a proud kanaka ‘ōiwi. In addition to his work in film and television, Kaipo finds purpose in connecting with his culture through his art forms, whether it’s dance, acting, or modeling. Raised on a strong foundation built by his family and mentors, Kaipo embraces the values of his heritage and is dedicated to uplifting the lāhui and the people of Hawai’i through his creative pursuits.
BRINGING LILO & STITCH TO LIFE – A UNIQUELY LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
Filmmaker Panel |Sunday, 13-APR, 6:00PM
Bring the family together for an insightful panel discussion on Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of LILO & STITCH (out this May), featuring cast members from Hawai‘i who helped bring this beloved story to life. This conversation will explore the opportunity to retell a globally recognized Disney classic while infusing it with the richness, authenticity, and sensibilities of Hawai’i culture. Panelists will share their experiences in shaping the film’s representation of ‘ohana, the aloha spirit, and what they brought to their performances in bringing authenticity, as well as something new that may be a different take from the beloved animated original. From the importance of casting local talent to accurately portraying island life, this discussion will highlight the significance of cultural authenticity in mainstream pop culture.