Local Filmmakers Win Big as HIFF44’s Awards Are Announced

Some of the crew of Moloka‘i Bound, from left: first assistant director Justyn Ah Chong, director Alika Tengan, producer Nina Yang Bongiovi, cinematographer and producer Chapin Hall, with HIFF executive director Beckie Stocchetti. Photo: Courtesy of HIFF

From Oct. 3–13, hundreds of features and short films from around the world came to Consolidated Theatres Kāhala in celebration of Hawai‘i International Film Festival’s 44th year. While screenings will continue on the Neighbor Islands over the next few weeks, winners of HIFF’s juried awards and honorees were announced at a private gala held Oct. 12 at the Halekūlani Hotel. (The Audience Choice Award will be announced after the festival concludes.) From emerging filmmakers to documentaries and student shorts, the winners represent the best of local and international cinema. There were a record number of Hawai‘i films in competition this year, with many coming out on top. Congratulations to all.

SEE ALSO: 14 Must-Watch Films at HIFF This October

Competition Awards

Kau Ka Hōkū Award: Moloka‘i Bound

The grand jury prize for HIFF’s “shooting star” award presented by Hawaiian Airlines honors a first- or second-time international feature filmmaker. Of the 12 nominees—including Universal Language, called “the best movie at Cannes” by Vulture—Moloka‘i Bound took home the top prize. This is director Alika Tengan’s second feature after Every Day in Kaimukī (2022) and the first made-in-Hawai‘i film to win the award, which debuted in 2018.

Molokai‘i Bound played in four sold-out theaters at Ward as the centerpiece of the festival and sold out subsequently added screenings, too. The expanded version of Tengan’s award-winning short of the same name follows Kainoa’s quest to reconnect with his son and turn his life around after spending years in prison.

molokaibound.com, @molokaibound

Made in Hawai‘i – Best Narrative Feature: Moloka‘i Bound

Moloka‘i Bound is the first film to win both the Made in Hawai‘i and Kau Ka Hōkū awards. Normally just one award, Made in Hawai‘i was split among two features by this year’s jury to honor a wealth of talent across multiple categories. Winners received cash prizes from the Hawai‘i State Film Office and Nichols Film Fund and are also eligible to be showcased on Hawaiian Airlines’ in-flight programming.

Standing Above the Clouds producer Erin Lau and Moloka‘i Bound director Alika Tengan with the Made in Hawai‘i Award. Photo: Sthanlee B. Mirador/HIFF/Sipa USA

Made in Hawai‘i – Best Documentary Feature: Standing Above the Clouds

Director Jalena Keane-Lee’s spotlight on activists Pua Case and her two daughters Hāwane Rios and Kapulei Flores as they fight to protect Maunakea brought us back to the summer of 2019. “The Best Documentary is a film that made us laugh, it made us cry, but most of all, it made us incredibly proud of powerful mana wahine standing strong at the forefront of such an important kaupapa,” the jury wrote. This film is an expanded version of Keane-Lee’s award-winning short that screened at more than 30 film festivals and is her first feature. Standing Above the Clouds also received an honorable mention for the Pasifika Award.

standingabovetheclouds.com, @standingabovetheclouds

SEE ALSO: 6 ‘Ōiwi To Watch

The Queen’s Flowers director Ciara Lacy. Photo: Sthanlee B. Mirador/HIFF/Sipa USA

Made in Hawai‘i – Best Short Film: The Queen’s Flowers

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ciara Lacy’s true story about a girl named Emma who would gift lei to Queen Lili‘uokalani is a fantastical animation made with Daniel Sousa, who also designed Kapaemahu and Aikāne. With this award, The Queen’s Flowers is eligible to be nominated for an Oscar.

thequeensflowersfilm.com, @thequeensflowersfilm

SEE ALSO: It’s Raining Hawai‘i Films in Hollywood

NETPAC Award: Sister Midnight

The Network for the Promotion of Asian-Pacific Cinema gives this award at festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Rotterdam, Busan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawai‘i.

Sister Midnight, directed by Karan Kandahari, is a comedy/horror about an Indian woman trapped in an arranged marriage, forced to find an outlet for her frustrations. It played as part of the HIFF Extreme section. The jury said: “… [T]he director’s unique approach, using playful humor and colorful stylized vitality, coupled with Radhik Apte’s standout performance, distinguishes it from other films addressing the injustice of gender and social hierarchies.”

The honorable mention, Ka Whawai Tonu: Struggle Without End, is an Aotearoa production directed by Michael Jonathan that features HIFF44’s Trailblazer Award honoree Temuera Morrison.

Pasifika Award – Best Feature Film: We Were Dangerous

Pacific Islanders in Communications, a Honolulu-based nonprofit that works to support, advance and develop Pacific Island media content and talent, presents this award and $5,000 to director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu’s We Were Dangerous, which also received the SXSW 2024 Narrative Feature Competition Special Jury Award for Filmmaking. A misfit trio of girls in New Zealand rebel against their reform school and bring hope to viewers.

HIFF Best Short Film Award: CHamoru: A Lost Language

With more than 2,000 submissions, the shorts category at HIFF continues to grow, especially as each selection is eligible for this award that in turn grants the winner the ability to be nominated for an Oscar. Filmmaker Brian Muna’s film follows the journey of those working to preserve his language for posterity.

The honorable mention, Talk to Me (unrelated to the recent A24 horror film of the same name), spotlights themes of loneliness and human connection.

BMW Driven Student Award: Stitches

Students curated the HIFF44 University Showcase from more than 60 submissions, granting the top award to this surreal family portrait involving puppets. It’s more heartfelt and insightful than you might think. Director and UH Mānoa student Alexander Clearly received a $3,000 cash prize in sponsorship of continued film education.

There were two honorable mentions for this category: Where Do Butterflies Go When They Die? (directed by Steven Loya Montoya) and Anxious (directed by Josiah Castillo).

Honorees

Shōgun co-creators and showrunners Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo with HIFF executive director Beckie Stocchetti. Photo: Sthanlee B. Mirador/HIFF/Sipa USA 

Previously announced honorees of this year’s festival also attended the gala. They were:

• Halekūlani Vision in Film Award: Stanley Nelson
• Halekūlani Career Achievement Award: Justin Marks & Rachel Kondo (Shōgun)
• Halekūlani Maverick Award: Charles Yu and Interior Chinatown
• Leanne K. Ferrer Trailblazer Award Presented by Pacific Islanders in Communications: Temuera Morrison
• Spotlight on Hong Kong Filmmaker: Sandra Ng

hiff.org, @hiffhawaii