The 2024 HIFF Spring Showcase is here with the Hawai‘i premiere of Lee Tamahori’s Aotearoa-set historical epic THE CONVERT, which is also screening again this weekend. The Guy Pearce-led action epic had its world premiere at Toronto last fall and will be commercially released in New Zealand this month. Meanwhile, the Spring Showcase is always an opportunity to see several films straight from another major film festival, the Sundance Film Festival, which just concluded last month. It’s quite an opportunity for Honolulu film aficionados who are tracking the latest film festival favorites and view them way in advance before their eventual releases later this year.
Here are 5 films straight from Sundance that you should look out for at HIFF Spring Showcase over the next week:
ÀMA GLORIA (France)
Young Cléo loves her nanny Gloria more than anything. The two must make the most of their last summer together before Gloria returns to Cape Verde to care for her own children. ÀMA GLORIA is a touching film about the nanny-child bond that had its North American premiere at Sundance, and previously its world premiere at Cannes. March 24, 5:00pm – Consolidated Kahala
GHOSTLIGHT (USA)
GHOSTLIGHT centers around Dan, a melancholic construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” But as the onstage drama mirrors his own life, Dan and his family are forced to grapple with a recent tragedy. Co-starring TRIANGLE OF SADNESS breakout Dolly De Leon in yet another amazing performance as Dan’s irascible co-lead. March 23, 5:30pm / March 27, 5:30pm – Consolidated Kahala
IN A VIOLENT NATURE (Canada)
This is for all you horror aficionados. In this “ambient horror” film, an undead killer wreaks bloody havoc in the remote wilderness. Think a slasher film if done by Bella Tarr. This is one of the most unique, inventive, gruesome and all vibes. March 23, 8:00pm – Consolidated Kahala
THELMA (USA)
When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. This delightful action-comedy was a huge Sundance hit, starring June Squibb as a nonagenarian in a fun, inventive path of comeuppance in her own Mission Impossible-esque mission. March 26, 6:00pm / March 27, 8:00pm – Consolidated Kahala
Aside fro Sundance premieres, the Spring Showcase program also has festival favorites from Cannes, Toronto, Berlin and Telluride film festival favorites. Check out the full lineup!
