LAST HAWAIIAN SUGAR is a deeply personal project for writer/director Déjà Bernhardt, who depicts the final days of a community's connection to a sugar plantation that kept them together for decades. Déjà chats with Artistic Director Anderson Le about her career thus far as a filmmaker and unpacks the allegories that make this film one of the highlights of HIFF41.

CW: discussions of sexual abuse and trauma

Guest - Déjà Bernhardt
Interviewer - Anderson Le
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stocchetti

Special Thanks To:
AfterBruce
Hawaii Film Office
Nichols Family Film Fund
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

During the pandemic, Karan Soni and his partner Roshan Sethi decided to break out of their creative slumps and write a film in just eight days that would go on to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021.  A romantic comedy set in quarantine featuring a couple on an "arranged marriage" date, Karan shares his experiences of making this film: working under the direction of his partner and exploring cultural practices during a time of strained socialization. 

Guest - Karan Soni
Interviewer - Lee Ngo
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stocchetti

Special Thanks
AfterBruce
Vilcek Foundation
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Over his extensive career in entertainment, Dante Basco has always kept his identity and culture close to his heart. His latest film - a fun close-to-real-life collaboration with several of his family members - reflects his undying hunger to continue to tell his truth through storytelling. Meanwhile, his interviewer Lee Ngo is trying very hard not to reveal how much of a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender he is, especially the incomparable character arc of Prince Zuko of The Fire Nation.

Guest - Dante Basco
Interviewer - Lee Ngo
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stocchetti

Special Thanks
AfterBruce
BMW of Honolulu
Mini of Honolulu
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Filmed on location in Hawaii, Christopher Makoto Yogi's latest film I WAS A SIMPLE MAN premiered at Sundance virtually and in theaters this year at HIFF. Anderson Le sits down with Chris to explore the film's dream-like visual and sound design, its nostalgic and melancholy themes, and working with some up-and-coming stars in the community.

Guest - Christopher Makoto Yogi
Interviewer - Anderson Le
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stocchetti

Special Thanks to
AfterBruce
Consolidated Theaters
Nichols Family Film Fund
FilmHawaii 
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

As this year's recipient of the Halekulani Golden Maile Career Achievement Award, Maui-born Destin Daniel Cretton has had an amazing year. We talk about his humble origins of discovering filmmaking as a youth to building up his career through the film festival circuits. Now, he's an internationally recognized and award-winning filmmaker, most recently shattering box office records with the critically acclaimed recent entry into the MCU: Shang Chi. Producer, program associate, and unabashed fanboy Lee Ngo interviews. 

Guest - Destin Daniel Cretton
Interviewer - Lee Ngo 
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stocchetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

For some reason, ʻĀina Paikai does not have an official film in HIFF 41. Yet his contributions as an actor, producer, and director have honored festivals past, not to mention that his face from DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK OF WAIKIKI was plastered all over HIFF 39's promotional efforts. What has ʻĀina been up to since last year? Artistic Director Anderson Le "confronts" this talented man over this matter. 

Guest - ʻĀina Paikai 
Interviewer: Anderson Le
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le & Beckie Stochetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
BoxJelly
Halekulani
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Ty Sanga has been a pioneer for Native Hawaiian filmmaking, inspiring others in the community through his work and mentorship to tell their own story. Yet he's far from done telling his own stories as well, with his latest work HE KAU HEAHEA A HI‘IAKA making it into HIFF's Pacific Shorts Showcase this year. Ty chats with HIFF's Anderson Le about his latest work and how he's evolved professionally and personally as a filmmaker. 

Guest - Ty Sanga
Interviewer and Executive Producer - Anderson Le 
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producer - Beckie Stocchetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
BoxJelly
HEI
Pacific Islanders in Communication
Morgan Stanley
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Serial HIFF contributor and perpetual friend to the community, filmmaker Justyn Ah Chong’s work has always been interested in telling stories from a native Hawaiian perspective. Listen as Justyn shares his past, current, and upcoming work with HIFF’s Artistic Director Anderson Le. 

Guest - Justyn Ah Chong
Interviewer and Executive Producer - Anderson Le 
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producer - Beckie Stocchetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
BoxJelly
HCH
NIA TERO
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Keli'i Grace's submission to the 2021 Hawaii International Film Festival takes on a heavy subject that still resonates strongly well into the present: the infamous Massie trials of the 1930s. A dark and challenging exploration of racism, criminality, and broader power regimes in Hawai'i, Grace talks about the process of making this film and his own connection to the multiracial and multicultural tapestry of the islands. Also, he shares an interesting project he's developing as well that peaks interviewer Anderson Le's interest.

Guest - Keli'i Grace
Interviewer and Executive Producer - Anderson Le
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producer - Beckie Stocchetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
BoxJelly
Nichols Film Fund
Film Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.

Making a documentary about Native Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was both a dream come true and a huge responsibility for director Isaac Halasima. How does one depict an actual legend, trailblazer, and superhero to his people and community? Much to the delight of interviewer Lee Ngo, Isaac drew from recent Superman films ... and also BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA? Listen to these two fanboys pay homage to the Duke in the best way they could.

Guest - Isaac Halasima
Interviewer - Lee Ngo 
Producer - Lee Ngo
Executive Producers - Anderson Le and Beckie Stocchetti

Special thanks to
AfterBruce
BoxJelly
HEI
Bishop Museum
Consolidated Theaters
NIA TERO
Nichols Film Fund
Film Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaii International Film Festival

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.