14 Must-Watch Films at HIFF This October
The Hawai‘i International Film Festival’s fall lineup is here. Here’s what you need to know.
The audience at a screening of Uncle Bully’s Surf Skool at HIFF43. Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Lifestyle Studio
More than 200 feature films and shorts are coming to Consolidated Theatres Kāhala Oct. 3–13 as part of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival, with subsequent screenings in West O‘ahu (Oct.15–17) and on the Neighbor Islands (Oct. 19–Nov. 10). This fall’s lineup of 92 features and 114 shorts includes a record 40 world premieres and the most made-in-Hawai‘i films in competition in the festival’s history, along with filmmaker Q&A’s, workshops and more.
This year’s theme, “creating new traditions,” will dive into cultural identity, Native sovereignty and perspectives, and more. Special HIFF honorees include Roger Deakins, Oscar-winning cinematographer of Blade Runner 2049 and 1917; Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, the husband-and-wife showrunners of Shōgun (Kondo was born and raised on Maui) featured as part of a new spotlight on television; and renowned Māori actor Temuera Morrison, who plays Boba Fett in multiple Disney+ series. You might catch them at screenings, along with plenty of other filmmakers and special guests.
HIFF is one of 172 Oscar-qualifying festivals worldwide, and winners of two of its juried awards, Best Short Film and Best Made in Hawai‘i Short Film, will be in contention for Oscar consideration. The festival also doles out a total of $5,000 to winners of the Deep Blue Shorts Award, focused on emerging technologies in water power.
It’s been a busy year for the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. In the spring, its team members launched the inaugural ‘Ōpio Fest, showcasing student filmmakers, and relocated from Dole Cannery to a new office on Wai‘alae Avenue in Kaimukī, where they hold events and panel discussions. Over the summer, the festival partnered with the Prince Waikīkī for free film screenings on the hotel’s deck.
The full HIFF44 schedule—updated daily during the festival—is available at hiff.org. Where to start? You can browse every synopsis to find what sounds the most interesting to you, but if you’re just looking for a few standouts, here are some of our top picks covering a variety of topics, with details on everything else you need to know. Below are dates for the main portion of the festival only, at Kāhala, unless otherwise noted.
Memoir of a Snail
The trailer for this stop-motion animation about a twin named Grace dealing with loss and friendship filled us with emotion. And Nick Cave is in it!
Saturday, Oct. 5, 5:45 p.m., hiff.org/events/memoirofasnail
The Last of the Sea Women
Produced by Malala Yousafzai (among others), this documentary follows the haenyeo divers of South Korea’s Jeju Island—most of whom are women in their 60s, 70s and 80s who dive to the ocean floor without oxygen—as they fight to protect the sea and their way of life.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 6:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/thelastoftheseawomen
https://youtu.be/90Kxt149mew?si=65ggwvxWlcU1yxEK
Dead Talents Society
This dark comedy follows a recently dead woman known as The Rookie who must prove she’s worthy of becoming a ghost rather than be eternally damned. The Hawai‘i premiere is part of a spotlight on Taiwan.
Saturday, Oct 5, 9 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct 8, 8:30 p.m., hiff.org/events/deadtalentssociety
Universal Language
Called “the best movie at Cannes” by Vulture, this film follows the lives of different characters in an Iranian-majority Winnipeg. For fans of magical realism.
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 10, 3:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/universallanguage
The centerpiece film, Moloka‘i Bound, screens Oct. 9. Photo: Courtesy of Significant Productions
Centerpiece film: Moloka‘i Bound
The highly anticipated full-length expansion of Native Hawaiian director Alika Tengan’s award-winning 2019 short of the same name, about a man fresh out of prison trying to reconnect with his son, has its homecoming. It premiered this year at the Seattle International Film Festival and took home the award for Best Indigenous Feature at Oklahoma’s deadCenter Film Festival in June. After the screening, hear from Tengan and his team, including producer Nina Yang Bongiovi and actor Holden Mandrial-Santos.
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Consolidated Ward 16, hiff.org/events/molokaibound
Kaniela: The Danny Kaleikini Story
A tribute to the late entertainer, featuring interviews with Kaleikini as well as friends and family.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13, 12:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/kanielathedannykaleikinistory
No Other Land
A Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist team up in this documentary about the fight against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/nootherland
Chaperone
Breakout star Zoë Eisenberg is having a tremendous year. Her first novel, Significant Others, was published in February, and now, she marks her directorial and screenwriting debut with the release of this film about a woman who starts a relationship with a young man who mistakes her for a student. It premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the coveted Grand Jury Prize for Breakouts Feature.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 8:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/chaperone
SEE ALSO: Meet Hawai‘i’s Newest Literary and Film Star, Zoë Eisenberg
Pacific Showcase Shorts: Narrative Sovereignty
Various short films from around the Pacific deal with authority over land.
Friday, Oct. 11, 6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13, 2:45 p.m., hiff.org/events/pacificshowcaseshortsnarrativesovereignty
The Mountain
A coming-of-age tale from the producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Jojo Rabbit follows three kids who try to climb Mount Taranaki on New Zealand’s North Island.
Saturday, Oct. 12, 3:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/themountain
Terrestrial
If you were on the internet in 2008, you probably quoted Alex Farnham’s YouTube video “One Dolla” to your friends (“findahs keepahs, losahs is crying”). While we’re giggling over the fact that he’s premiering a film called One Million Dolla at HIFF44, we’re also looking forward to his monster movie, Terrestrial, in which a teacher finds an alien in a lava tube.
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m., hiff.org/events/terrestrial
Blitz
Saoirse Ronan stars in Steve McQueen’s latest, about a young boy during World War II who leaves safety in the English countryside in an attempt to find his family. Catch the film before its theatrical release in November.
Sunday, Oct. 13, 5:15 p.m., hiff.org/events/blitz
Jimmy O. Yang. Photo: Courtesy of HIFF
Interior Chinatown
Jimmy O. Yang, whom you might know from Netflix’s Space Force, stars in the short Summons (part of Strange Futures Shorts, Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m.) and in this new show, the first episode of which was directed by Taika Waititi and will be screened on the final night of the festival’s main run. Yang will be there for a conversation with writer Charles Yu—the two of them will be honored this year with the HIFF Halekūlani Maverick Award.
Sunday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m., hiff.org/events/interiorchinatown
Special Presentation: Once Were Warriors with Temuera Morrison
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this Māori film starring Rena Owen and himself, Temuera Morrison will be in attendance for this special screening as an honoree of the HIFF44 Trailblazer award. Earlier in the day, he’ll be at a free screening of the second episode of The Book of Boba Fett at UH West O‘ahu; that event will feature a discussion with HIFF executive director Beckie Stocchetti.
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., Consolidated Kapolei, hiff.org/events/oncewerewarriorswithtemueramorrison
We’re also looking forward to Barry Keoghan as single dad Bug in Bird; Getting Lost, a documentary celebrating the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking show; Chinatown Cha-Cha, about 92-year-old nightclub dancer Coby Yee; the animated Ghost Cat Anzu; the latest in the V/H/S horror anthology franchise; and many more.
Hawai‘i International Film Festival Tickets
Tickets for individual films go on sale Sept. 16 and are generally $15, though there are discounts and day-of increases, plus different costs for special events. Many films sell out in advance, so your best bet is to buy tickets online rather than in person. Find a cost breakdown here.
Passes are available now, but you’ll still need to reserve your spot for screenings unless you’re a platinum passholder. Keep in mind that additional screenings are often added—and schedules can change—so find the most updated list online.
Can’t get enough of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival? Join HIFF Selects, which gets you access to exclusive members-only screenings every month throughout the year.
