As a movie buff hailing from the land down under with a penchant for tales that resonate deeply and leave lasting impressions, I must say that this year’s Honolulu Film Festival has truly outdone itself. The diverse lineup of films from all corners of the globe promises an exhilarating cinematic journey that I can’t wait to embark on.
The upcoming 44th Hawaii International Film Festival, sponsored by Halekulani, will kick off with “Tinā,” a heartwarming dramatic film that is Miki Magasiva’s first full-length directorial effort, and conclude with Sori Fumihiko’s “Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality.
During this time, the festival will be filled with 92 feature films and 114 short films, along with significant honors for attendees such as Jimmy O Yang, Sandra Ng from Hong Kong, and renowned documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson.
This year, Beckie Stochetti, HIFF’s executive director, mentioned that our festival has more Hawaiian films in competition than ever before. We are also showcasing several movies delving into Indigenous viewpoints, self-determination in storytelling, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Moreover, we are introducing a special focus on top-notch TV productions.
Born in New Zealand, the series “Our Flag Means Death” features Anapela Polata’ivao playing a highly respected and talented vocal coach who finds herself grappling with personal tragedy and stepping out of her comfort zone to take on the role of a substitute teacher at an exclusive, all-white private school. In this new environment, she establishes a choir that plays a significant part in her healing journey as both a matriarch and caregiver. The dialogue is primarily in English and Samoan.
In “Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality,” actor Yakusho Koji, known for playing roles in “Perfect Days,” takes on the character of a renowned author who sets out to create an epic fantasy novel that becomes his lifelong pursuit. However, as he nears completion, he starts to lose his sight, and instead of finishing the book himself, he narrates it to his most cherished companion.
The star attraction at the festival is “Moloka’i Bound,” a film set in Hawaii, directed by Alika Tengan and based on his own short film of the same title. This drama tells the story of a Hawaiian man, portrayed by Holden Madrial-Santos, who has recently been released from prison after many years. He struggles to adapt to everyday life in Hawaii, making poor choices for what he believes are the right reasons to help his family. “Moloka’i Bound” is also entered in the festival’s competition category.
The following feature films are contenders: “Agent of Happiness” by Dorottya Zurbó, originating from Bhutan; “Chinatown Cha Cha” by Luka Yang Yuanyuan, produced in China and the U.S.; “The Desert of Namibia,” directed by Yamanaka Yoko, hailing from Japan; “Don’t Cry Butterfly,” a Vietnamese-led co-production by Dương Diệu Linh; “Escape From 21st Century,” a mainland Chinese hit by Yang Yi; “Happyend” by Neo Sora, a joint production between Japan and the U.S.; “Homegrown,” a film about three Trump supporters directed by Michael Premo; “Standing Above the Clouds” by Jalena Keane-Lee; “Universal Language,” an offbeat comedy award winner by Matthew Rankin; “Yintah,” a film focusing on Canadian women protesting pipeline development, co-directed by Brenda Michell, Michael Toledan and Jennifer Wickham; and “Zurawski V Texas,” a film depicting women defending their rights and reproductive futures, directed by Maise Crow and Abbie Perault.
As stated by Anderson Le, the artistic director of HIFF, the boundary between movies shown in cinemas and programs broadcast on TV has grown progressively less clear during the last 20 years, notably due to the emergence of streaming services,” says a simpler and more conversational paraphrase.
Among the selections for the initial Prestige TV Series Panorama at HIFF is: “Getting Lost,” a documentary series helmed by Taylor Morden that delves into the worldwide sensation “Lost”; the pilot episode of “Interior Chinatown” directed by Taika Waititi, which follows an Asian American actor grappling with stereotypical roles and clichés in his professional and personal life on Hulu; and “Shōgun,” an epic series set in Japan broadcasted on FX.
The fresh addition aligns with several accolades presented at the festival. Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, creators of “Shōgun”, along with showrunner Charles Yu of “Interior Chinatown” and actor Jimmy O. Yang, have been selected to receive the HIFF Halekulani Maverick Award.
Other award events center around Sandra Ng, a comedienne, actor, and producer, who will be given the HIFF Spotlight On Hong Kong Filmmaker in Profile Award; Temuera Morrison, winner of the HIFF Leanne K Ferrer Pasifika Trailblazer Award; and Stanley Nelson. He is considered the leading documentarian portraying the African American experience today by the festival and receives its HIFF Halekulani Vision in Film Award.
The HIFF’s non-competitive process serves as a collection of outstanding festival films from events such as Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto, while also functioning as a platform to showcase emerging talent from the Asia-Pacific area. In simpler terms, it’s like a scrapbook of top-notch films from popular festivals worldwide and a stage for new artists originating from the Asia-Pacific region.
2021’s lineup features a variety of premieres, including “About Family” by Seok Yang Woo, “An Unfinished Film” by Lou Ye, “Balota” by Kip Oebanda, “Bird” by Andrea Arnold, “Blitz” by Steve McQueen, “Caught by the Tides” by Jia Zhang-ke, “Chain Reactions” by Alexandre O. Philippe, “Chaperone” by Zoe Eisenberg, “Cloud” by Kurosawa Kiyoshi, “Dead Talents Society” by John Hsu, “Emilia Perez” by Jacques Audiard, the animated “Flow” by Gints Zilbalodis, “Friendly Fire” by Mikhail Red, “Ghost Cat Anzu” by Kuno Yuko and Yamashita Nobuhiro, “Grafted” by Sasha Rainbow, “Hunter Brothers” by Su Hung-en, “I’m Still Here” by Walter Salles, “Ka Whawhai Tonu: Struggle Without End” by Mike Jonathan, “The Last Dance” by Anselm Chan, “The Last of the Sea Women” by Sue Kim, “Love in the Big City” by E.oni, “Marimari” from Papua New Guinea and New Zealand by Paul Wolfram, “The Motherload” by Van Tran Nguyen, “The Mountain” by Rachel House, “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin'” by Benjamin Rhee, Pedro Almodovar’s “The Room Next Door”, Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, “Sisam” by Nakao Hiroyuki, “Sister Midnight” by Karan Kandhari, the world premiere of Albert and Herbert Leung’s “Stuntman”, Reema Kagti’s “Superboys of Malegaon”, “Voice” by Krunal Suresh Padhiar, “Unstoppable” by William Goldenberg, six-part “V/H/S Beyond” from Shudder, and “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by Su I-hsuan.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the film festival I’ve been eagerly waiting for will unfold from October 3rd to 13th in the heart of Honolulu. The festivities then continue in West Oahu on October 15th-17th. After that, we have screenings scheduled for October 19th-20th on Maui, October 21st-23rd on Lanai, November 1st-3rd on Kauai, November 2nd-3rd on the Big Island (Waimea), November 7th-8th on Molokai, and finally, from November 7th to 10th on the Big Island (Hilo). It’s going to be a movie lover’s dream come true!
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2024-09-06 19:17