Hawaiʻi International Film Festival

Student filmmakers from Hawaiʻi and Alaska were recently honored as part of a local youth initiative. The future filmmakers program seeks to empower students and introduces them to the film industry. HPR's Jayna Omaye reports.

New Zealand actress Rena Owen, one of the most recognizable Maori in the industry, spoke with The Conversation about telling Indigenous stories on the big screen.

“The Story of Everything” is one of the local films featured at this year's Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. Originally a theater performance by poet laureate Kealoha, the film explains the science behind the creation of the universe from the Big Bang to the future — all while staying comedic.

It’s the first short film for director Kekama Amona, who wrote the script with his wife. The Conversation talked to him about his film and becoming a filmmaker later in life.

The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival provides a venue for world-famous directors from the Asia-Pacific to premiere their films, but it’s also an opportunity for local student films to be in the spotlight. HPR's Zoe Dym spoke with University of Hawaiʻi students about their films.

The program seeks to encourage and inspire the next generation of local film critics, commentators and young entrepreneurs. Applications are due Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Before in-person events for the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival finished up, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa joined The Conversation to talk about virtual reality versus fiscal reality. HIFF saw a massive increase in online viewership in 2020, but streaming has not brought in the same amount of ticket revenue as in-person screenings.

After 18 months, two Hawaiʻi film festivals are betting people are ready for fresh material and in-person moviegoing. HPR's Noe Tanigawa reports the local film festivals are offering a variety of experiences, including one featuring virtual reality this weekend in Kakaʻako.

One short film screening this week at the Honolulu International Film Festival is "Ala Moana Boys." The film adapts some of the events around Honolulu’s infamous Massie Trials in the 1930s. The Conversation sat down with writer Alexander Deedy and director Keliʻi Grace to discuss the film.

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