Hawai‘i International Film Festival returns to the MACC
By JON WOODHOUSE
For The Maui News
The 44th annual Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani is coming to the neighbor islands with screenings at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center from Oct. 19 to 20, followed by the Hale Keaka theater on Lanai from Oct. 21 to 23, and finally, at Kaunakakai Elementary School on Molokai from Nov. 7 to 8.
The MACC screenings will include a few Maui premieres. Among the highlights are “Shaka, A Story of Aloha,” “Standing Above the Clouds” about Maunakea protectors, “Healing Lahaina” by Laurel Tamayo on the loss of a multigenerational home in the fires, the feature film “Moloka’i Bound,” “Terrestrial,” the first alien monster movie made on Maui, and the world premiere of “One Million Dolla.”
The festival has a particular focus on Hawaii produced works to encourage local filmmakers. “We started the Made in Hawaii showcase 8 years ago,” explains HIFF executive director Beckie Stochetti. “The intention behind it was really to spotlight and also to elevate our local filmmakers and local industry at the same level as we were showcasing incredible films from around the world. To really bring up the profile of what our Hawaii community is doing, with the hope that if we gave a spotlight, it would spur more creation of higher-level work. This year we have 9 feature films in our Made in Hawaii program and 24 short films. It’s an incredible number we’re really excited about. We’ve never seen this many films as part of our program. It’s remarkable.”
Stochetti is especially excited about HIFF’s programming being accepted for Academy Award consideration. “A couple of years ago, HIFF became Oscar qualifying for two categories, our Best International Short, and our Made in Hawaii program. It’s incredibly hard to become an Academy qualifying film festival. It means that the winner of the Made in Hawaii best short film is eligible to qualify to be nominated for an Academy Award, which is a really big deal. We’re the only film festival in the world that is Academy Award qualifying specifically for films from Hawaii.”
We’ll get to see two feature films made on Maui, Alex Farnham’s “Terrestrial,” and the mockumentary “One Million Dolla,” starring Farnham and directed by Stefan Schaefer.
The comedy “One Million Dolla,” has “a ton of cameos in it,” says Stochetti (including a very famous actor who we can’t be named at the moment). “A houseless individual is given a million dollars. It’s a bit satirical on everything that’s going on right now. The other film ‘Terrestrial’ is like a throwback, an ’80s or ’90s sci-fi thriller type film.”
Among the other features, “Moloka’i Bound” by director Alika Tengan, “is his second feature film. He won our Made in Hawaii Short Award in the past. It’s really remarkable, the story of a man who was formerly incarcerated, trying to integrate back into society, and fix relationships with his family. A lot of identity themes run throughout that film, like what does it mean to be Hawaiian?”
Focusing on Maunakea, “Standing Above the Clouds” follows teacher and community organizer Pua Case and her two daughters, Hawane Rios and Kapulei Flores, who have been called to stop the TMT telescope. A POV Magazine review praised: “The film is a profound statement on how the human spirit can’t be broken as long as individuals band together.”
Screenings on Lanai will be held at that new Hale Keaka theater, and on Molokai at Kaunakakai Elementary School. “HIF hasn’t been able to do a screening on Molokai in many years, so we’re so happy to be back there, and that program is free,” says Stochetti. “Because we haven’t been there in so long we’re trying to focus on the community with a free program.”
A bunch of filmmakers will attend the Maui screenings for Q&As. “We’re trying to build up our audience on Maui so that we can do bigger events like at the Castle Theater or outdoors,” she says. “I’m trying to get back to the days when we did more on the neighbor islands. HIF is really trying to showcase our local industry as well as the best films from around the world, and my hope is to grow Maui.”
The Hawai’i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani screens in the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater from Oct. 19 to 20, on Lanai from Oct. 21 to 23, and on Molokai from Nov. 7 to 8. Tickets are $12 plus applicable fees for MACC shows, available at mauiarts.org