HOCCI's Ashton Obrero sits down with Emmy award-winning filmmaker Justyn Ah Chong to discuss his career and experience at the 44th Annual Hawai'i International Film Festival. Justyn co-produced this yearʻs centerpiece presentation, MOLOKA'I BOUND, which is the first film to win both the Made In Hawai'i: Best Narrative Feature and Kau Ka Hōkū Award. He also wrote and produced the short documentary RECLAIM as part of second season of Sesame Workshop's award-winning docuseries THROUGH OUR EYES.

The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program supports sustainable film criticism in Hawaiʻi through mentorship and paid career opportunities for Hawaiʻi-based AANHPI critics. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities. The 2024 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

HOCCI's Olivia Trice interviews Daerius Legg, the artist behind HIFF43's key art visual and main trailer artist. Daerius' style was inspired by his love of manga and anime (Katsuhito Otomo and Osamu Tezuka) and his philosophy of "being stoked" as a lifelong surfer, born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.  In addition, he also had a documentary short in this year's Festival entitled STOKER MACHINE. To follow more on what he's doing, as well as upcoming screenings for his film, go to daeriuslegg.com. 

The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai‘i through mentorship and paid career opportunities. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific region and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in Hawai’i, not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. The 2023 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

HOCCI's Sean Oketani sits down with Laurel Tamayo to discuss her short film, GEN Z MENTAL HEALTH: CLIMATE STORIES, which was a part of the official selection for HIFF43 in the Environmental Shorts Program. This podcast interview covers the topics highlighted in the documentary, opening up a larger discussion on the climate crisis and its effects on the collective mental health of a generation, and the market's need for impact producers in current documentary filmmaking.

For more information on this film, you can follow the production studio on Instagram @strandedastronaut or you can visit climatementalhealth.net/genzfilm

 The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai‘i through mentorship and paid career opportunities. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific region and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in Hawai’i, not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. The 2023 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

HOCCI's Sean Oketani sits down with filmmaker Hunter Naho‘oikaika to discuss her film, SEEING WTIH HAWAIIAN EYES, an official selection of the 43rd Hawai‘i International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (HIFF43) and screened in the "Kānaka Maoli Legacy: New Hawaiian Docs" program. During this interview, Hunter and Sean talk about her film and its subject matter on preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, the documentary filmmaking process, and the current state of the emerging filmmakers based in Hawai‘i.

To keep up with Hunter and her work or learn more about the film, you can follow her on Instagram @kawailiula.designs.

The HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) supports sustainable film criticism in Hawai‘i through mentorship and paid career opportunities. The mission of HOCCI is to broaden diversity in film criticism across the Pacific region and use influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in Hawai’i, not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. The 2023 HOCCI is supported by Critical Minded, a grant-making and learning initiative that supports cultural critics of color in the United States.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

In this episode, HIFF HOCCI mentee Jim Fahey sits down with Leo Williams, a NY-based film critic, to discuss about the HIFF42 Closing Night Film BROKER directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. It's an interesting conversation as this is Jim's first Kore-eda film, while Leo is familiar with the director's previous work. 

About HOCCI:
The mission of the HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program is to encourage film criticism in Hawai‘i by using the influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in the State and not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Ten mentees participated in this program, giving them press industry access to HIFF42. In addition, the cohort attended mentoring sessions by working critics in the online film journalism community in unique silos: Writing, Podcasting, Video Essays and Vlogging. Mahalo to DBEDT Creative Industries and Creative Lab Hawaii for their support.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

In this episode, HIFF HOCCI mentee Jim Fahey sits down with Leo Williams, a NY-based film critic, to discuss about the film SHE SAID directed by Maria Schrader. An official selection of HIFF42, the film is currently in commercial release in U.S. theaters.   

About HOCCI:
The mission of the HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program is to encourage film criticism in Hawai‘i by using the influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in the State and not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Ten mentees participated in this program, giving them press industry access to HIFF42. In addition, the cohort attended mentoring sessions by working critics in the online film journalism community in unique silos: Writing, Podcasting, Video Essays and Vlogging. Mahalo to DBEDT Creative Industries and Creative Lab Hawaii for their support.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

In this episode, HIFF HOCCI mentee Olivia Thrice talks about the joys of returning to the cinema to experience films as HIFF fully returns to an in-person event.  She also explores the theme of "forgiveness" in films she watched at HIFF42. She specifically highlights three films--WOMEN TALKING, OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL and ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED--all female centered films dealing with patriarchal trauma and oppression, and all directed by women. 

About HOCCI:
The mission of the HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program is to encourage film criticism in Hawai‘i by using the influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in the State and not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Ten mentees participated in this program, giving them press industry access to HIFF42. In addition, the cohort attended mentoring sessions by working critics in the online film journalism community in unique silos: Writing, Podcasting, Video Essays and Vlogging. Mahalo to DBEDT Creative Industries and Creative Lab Hawaii for their support.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

In this episode, HIFF HOCCI mentee David Murray sits down with his buddy Terry to discuss about the film FINDING SATOSHI directed Laurent Barthelemy and is part of HIFF42's New American Perspectives presented by the Vilcek Foundation.   

About HOCCI:
The mission of the HIFF ONLINE CREATIVES & CRITICS IMMERSIVE (HOCCI) program is to encourage film criticism in Hawai‘i by using the influencer branding strategies to spark career opportunities in the State and not be hampered by oceans, state borders and distance, because geography is no longer a barrier. Ten mentees participated in this program, giving them press industry access to HIFF42. In addition, the cohort attended mentoring sessions by working critics in the online film journalism community in unique silos: Writing, Podcasting, Video Essays and Vlogging. Mahalo to DBEDT Creative Industries and Creative Lab Hawaii for their support.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

Although Alika Tengan's film made it into Sundance in 2022, he was unable to experience his film in front of an in-person theatrical audience. To rectify this, HIFF made his film the closing feature of the Spring Showcase on April 14, 2022. Anderson Le moderates a Q&A with many members of the cast and crew. 

Guest - Alika Maikau Tengan and the EVERTYDAY IN KAIMUKĪ
Interviewer - Anderson Le
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le and Beckie Stocchetti

Special Thanks to:
Consolidated Theaters at Kahala
Sundance Film Festival
Pacific Islanders in Communication

Listen to another HIFF Talks with Alika: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1885525/9966011

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.

After a screening of BLURRING THE COLOR LINE on April 12, 2022 at the Consolidated Theaters in Honolulu, Anderson Le chats with Crystal Kwok about the journey she took to make this riveting documentary, focusing on her Chinese grandparents living in the South during the segregation era. The discussion is opened up to the audience for  questions as well.

More on BLURRING THE COLOR LINE:  https://hiff.org/events/blurring-the-color-line/

Interviewer: Anderson Le
Producer: Lee Ngo
Technical Support: Joshua Nye and Aaron Hansen
Executive Producers: Anderson Le and Beckie Stochietti

Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) is the premiere cinematic event in the Pacific and annually attracts more than 50,000 film enthusiasts from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. Heralded as “one of the Top 50 Film Festivals around the world,” according to Variety, HIFF is an Academy AwardsⓇ qualifying film festival that is mission driven to entertain, enlighten and inspire through the medium of film and creative content from around the world with a special focus on Hawai‘i made and Pacific Islander films and filmmaking. For more info, visit www.hiff.org.