The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa , in partnership with the (JANM) and the , will present a special screening of the documentary film “Third Act.” This exclusive event will take place on March 31, 2026, 6–8 p.m. in the Architecture Auditorium (ARCH 205) on the UH Mānoa campus.

Admission to this event is free and open to the public. Interested attendees are encouraged to secure their seats by .

Directed by Tadashi “Tad” Nakamura, director of JANM’s Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center, “Third Act” was an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The offers an intimate look at the life of his father, Robert A. Nakamura—a legendary filmmaker and activist. The screening will be followed by a live Q&A session with Tad.

Using the lessons taught to him by his father, Tad deciphers the legacy of an aging man who was just a child when he survived the U.S. concentration camps. Robert was a successful photographer who gave it up to tell his own story, an activist at the dawn of a social movement—and a father whose struggles won his son freedoms that eluded Japanese Americans of his generation. Throughout the years they have made films together, with Robert always by Tad’s side. “Third Act” was their last.

“The College of Social Sciences is honored to bring this free community screening of ‘Third Act’ to our campus,” said Denise Eby Konan, dean, UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences. “This film not only celebrates a pioneer in media arts, but offers a powerful exploration of art, activism and the Japanese American experience.”

“The Daniel K. Inouye Institute is honored to support the screening of the Emmy award winning film, ‘Third Act,’ which tells a heartfelt family story of Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII, and of a broader story of resilience and remembrance,” said Jennifer Sabas, president, Daniel K. Inouye Institute. “When I reflect upon the unspeakable, discriminatory hardship imposed on a group of people purely because of the color of their skin, and now the turbulent times in which we find ourselves today, it reminds me of one of Sen. Inouye’s favorite sayings—‘History is an excellent teacher, provided you heed the lessons learned. Otherwise, you are likely to repeat them.’”

Tadashi Nakamura, an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, was named to CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” list for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Now with more than 20 years of filmmaking experience, his films include “Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement” (2024), “Mele Murals” (2016), “Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings” (2013), “A Song for Ourselves” (2009) and “Pilgrimage” (2006).

University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� students played a central role in a landmark Southeast Asian film project now completed after years of collaboration. Through a partnership led by the (CSEAS) and the Vietnam Film Institute in Hanoi, more than 70 classic Vietnamese feature films have been digitized and subtitled in English.

The work began in the classroom. In 2007, CSEAS launched a film translation and subtitling course that trained UH ����ԴDz� students with advanced Southeast Asian language skills. Students translated dialogue, timed subtitles and helped prepare films for international viewing. Their work laid the foundation for a long-term effort focused on Vietnamese cinema. Former CSEAS associate director Paul Rausch created the course which was taught by John McGlynn.

Over time, the project grew into one of the program’s most active collaborations. The resulting catalog spans films released between 1959 and 2010.

The films are formatted for streaming on laptops, desktop computers and handheld devices. They are intended for libraries and classrooms, not large theaters or festivals. To support viewers who are hearing impaired, captioning was added alongside English subtitles.

Foundational support for this project was provided through CSEAS‘s designation as a U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource Center.

For more on the catalog email vietnamcinemalibrary@gmail.com. Go to the for the full story.

—By Motoki Saito Yamamori

�鶹��ý residents are invited to hone high-demand creative industry skills with two production courses set for spring 2026, offered through the University of �鶹��ý Community Colleges’ initiative, in collaboration with the �鶹��ý Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Creative Industries Division.

On-set safety, support for productions

Participants in foundational safety will learn specialized protocols, proficiencies and on-set practices for working with scaffolding, aerial lifts, forklifts and more—all key to supporting production needs and obtaining related unionized jobs in the industry. Space is limited, and for Level 1 training beginning January 12, 2026, at . Level 2 training will follow, after necessary Level 1 conditions are met.

Level 1 training will consist of five courses with 72 hours of instruction including scaffolding erection, fall protection, aerial lifts, OSHA 10 and CRP/First Aid/AED certifications. Once the first course bundle is successfully completed, an interview with a local entertainment industry partner will be scheduled.

If the participant is hired, union membership in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees commences after 30 days of employment and the employed individual will be funded to progress to Level 2 training, including scaffolding use and telehandler certification. Instruction is offered across a variety of days and times to maximize community accessibility to the courses. Fully trained and employed unionized workers can expect to earn between $50–150 per hour.

“Good Jobs �鶹��ý is expanding real opportunities for residents to enter well-paying, in-demand careers, and these courses show how the UH Community Colleges can quickly respond to the evolving needs of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s creative sector,” said Della Teraoka, interim vice president for the UH Community Colleges. “By offering accessible training that leads to industry-recognized certifications and union eligibility, we’re helping local talent build long-term careers and supporting a stronger, more resilient economy for �鶹��ý.”

Course dates for foundation safety Level 1 run January 12–February 7, 2026, with a tuition cost of $1,610. Level 2 tuition is $465. Eligible students can qualify to receive 100% tuition support. To apply and learn more, visit the or email questions to goodjobs@hawaii.edu.

More on Good Jobs �鶹��ý

A variety of free and low-cost training classes are also available to explore across fields such as education, technology, skilled trades and healthcare, that can help open doors to jobs, paid internships and apprenticeships. More than 6,000 residents throughout the state have enrolled in specialized training classes since the Good Jobs �鶹��ý program launched in 2023. Learn more at the .

The Art of Music Media Masterclass, recently hosted by the University of �鶹��ý–West Oʻahu, offered local creatives—including working professionals, hobbyists and students—an intensive, free workshop merging film production and music industries. The masterclass, held two days in October, aimed to grow skills through real-world experience.

Nearly two dozen participants joined the workshop, including students from UH West Oʻahu, UH ����ԴDz�, Honolulu Community College, and Kapiʻolani Community College. The goal was to build confidence and community through education.

Students learned technical skills, such as video lighting, shooting, editing and workflow, alongside professional aspects, such as backstage etiquette, ethics and professionalism. For the hands-on capstone, selected students shot content alongside real production teams during the Holo Holo Music Festival.

One student reflected, “Being part of a real working media team—whether in a studio setting or at a live concert—made the learning practical and unforgettable.”

Connected industry skills

Instructor Antonio J. Agosto, Visionize Media co-founder and a former UH West Oʻahu student, designed the program drawing on his 15 years of experience in concert and festival production.

Agosto explained the course focused on educating photographers, videographers and storytellers on how to work in live music environments while also giving musicians and performers the chance to understand how media plays a role in their careers.

“The Art of Music Media Masterclass was created to bring together two industries that are often connected but rarely taught side by side—film production and the music industry,” Agosto said.

Agosto also emphasized that the training was designed to foster local talent.

“It wasn’t just about teaching camera skills; it was about showing how creatives in �鶹��ý can build sustainable careers without having to leave home,” he said. “This masterclass wasn’t just a class—it was a reminder that �鶹��ý can lead in storytelling. We just need the right opportunities and a strong community to make it happen.”

The collaborative effort was launched by Visionize Media, and presented by International Cultural Arts Network (ICAN) in partnership with UH West Oʻahu, KS Kaiāulu, Zippy’s, Good Vibez Presents and Visionize Media.

For more visit .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

Aspiring filmmakers are invited to submit a short film pitch for the Sustainability Pitch and Media Competition 2025. Hosted by the University of �鶹��ý System Office of Sustainability and the UH ����ԴDz� , this year’s theme is Local Food Production and Consumption.

The competition encourages filmmakers to turn their creativity into impact by using storytelling skills to pitch eye-catching short films that do good for the planet. Three pitches will be chosen. Winning pitches will earn $200 each. Those produced within the academic year will earn an additional $800.

online. Submissions are due November 20, at 11:55 p.m.

Application requirements

• Written pitch for a short film between 15 seconds and 2 minutes long.
• A written description of your idea (100–300 words max).
• A single PDF (4–8 images) showing your concept, visual style, and story progression.
• Pitches must be original (no overlap with class assignments).

Pitches will be judged by community professionals, and finished films will be shared with the UH community and beyond.

For more information, contact Associate Professor Laura Margulies at lmarguli@hawaii.edu.

graduate student at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� will officially premiere a new short documentary on campus this month spotlighting systemic oppression facing a Pakistani woman. PhD student, Haider Rifaat directed, wrote, narrated and produced In Shackles, which will be screened on Friday, January 24, at 1 p.m. in , Room 306.

The short documentary chronicles the life of Shamim, a 34-year-old Pakistani woman navigating the harsh realities of a patriarchal society in a village in Islamabad. Her story focuses on forced marriage and sexual violence, which are connected to more complex societal problems facing Pakistanis, including religious hypocrisy, impact of family conditioning on children and the culture of silence surrounding violence.

“The film’s title In Shackles is a metaphor to describe helplessness of a woman experiencing personal and professional problems that are connected to broader, more complex societal issues in Pakistan,” said Rifaat.

At only 29 years, Rifaat, who produced the film under his production label Haider Rifaat (HR) Films, is not only a filmmaker but an accomplished journalist and an actor. Through In Shackles, he critiques Pakistan’s legal system, particularly the Child Marriage Restraint Act, which sets the minimum marriage age for girls at 16.

“Although the short documentary supports women’s rights, it also centers on complex sociopolitical and legalistic problems that prevent women from progressing. Just like the controversial zina (illicit sexual intercourse) ordinances incarcerated female rape victims under Zia ul Haq’s controversial regime, laws surrounding child marriages aren’t accomplishing anything better for girls either. Setting the legal age of marriage for girls to 16 years may give families an opportunity to have their daughters marry without consent, which falls under forced marriage,” Rifaat added.

Rifaat’s film will also be released simultaneously on YouTube under following the premiere event.

The premiere is sponsored by the UH ����ԴDz� , , and , a policy think tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A professor at the at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa is gaining international recognition for his critically-acclaimed screenwriting. Marc Moody has recently made waves in some of the most prestigious competitions worldwide, showcasing both his talent and the strength of the university’s cinematic arts program.

In a major accomplishment, Moody was a quarterfinalist in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Nicholl Fellowship International Screenwriting Competition. Considered the top global contest for emerging screenwriters, the Nicholl Fellowship received more than 5,500 entries this year, with Moody’s screenplay standing out as one of just 354 to advance.

“Marc is a great example of what we are so happy to have at SCA, faculty who are professionals in the field and continue to practice their craft,” said Christine Acham, a professor and chair at SCA.

Moody also proved his versatility and consistency in other renowned competitions. At Screencraft’s Best Feature International Screenwriting Contest, all four of his submitted screenplays reached the quarterfinals, with one advancing to the semifinals. In the Best Action and Adventure category, another of Moody’s scripts also made it to the quarterfinals.

Moody’s screenwriting talents was further validated at the Richmond International Film Festival, where Moody was named a finalist—no small feat in one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest and most competitive festivals. Additionally, he was recognized as a finalist in Final Draft’s Big Break International Screenwriting Contest. The grand prize announcement is slated for this December. His success also extends to the WEScreenplay Diverse Voices competition, where he secured a semifinalist position.

This fall, Moody is teaching screenwriting and film history at The International College of Seville in Spain, part of the UH Mānoa . He will return to the Mānoa campus to teach screenwriting at SCA in spring 2025.

The School of Cinematic Arts is housed in the UH Mānoa .

A film that aims to highlight community resilience and strength in the wake of tragedy, created by a filmmaker whose family survived the deadly 2023 Maui brush fires, has been selected to be part of the 2024 (HIFF). Part of the film focuses on the delivered through the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa Cooperative Extension in Maui County that teaches participants about CPR, medical triage and more.

The family of film director Laurel Tamayo lost their home in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, and several family members discuss their own accounts of the fire. In addition to clips from the training, Nancy Ooki, associate extension agent for Maui County, discusses why the training is important to the youth and community. Through the film, the director spotlights the strength of the community, their ability to take action and support one another, and the hope for a better future.

The film will premiere at HIFF on Oʻahu on October 8 and 10. Additional showings will take place on �鶹��ý Island (November 2), on Maui (October 19) and on Lānaʻi (October 23). As part of the Maui showing, a community event is being planned to share information and resources on the training.

Teen disaster training

The program was started in 2018 on Maui and has currently trained more than 500 youth, including 100 teens from across the state on Maui in response to the wildfires on Maui. Youth in the Maui program were recognized as having completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Teen Community Emergency Response Team training as part of the Maui Emergency Management Agency. As such they can continue with additional training and participate in community education events.

As part of their 30 hours of training, participants demonstrate their knowledge and skills in several areas, including first aid, triage, communication, and damage assessment during a live action disaster simulation where they work in teams to locate and rescue survivors.

The program will expand to Oʻahu, Kauaʻi and �鶹��ý Island during the next year and will be looking for adults to train as instructors for the program. More information will be sent out through the local Youth Development Extension Agents on each island.

For more information about the program contact Ooki at ooki@hawaii.edu or (808) 244-3242 ext. 225.

The University of �鶹��ý Academy for Creative Media (ACM) System is offering a unique opportunity for ACM students and faculty across all 10 campuses to engage with the film industry through the 44th annual presented by Halekulani (HIFF). The highly anticipated festival opens on October 3, and ACM participants are encouraged to register for free tickets and passes, courtesy of the .

The HIFFxACM Accelerator is designed to help budding filmmakers and creative media students make critical connections within the industry while furthering their own professional and creative goals. The exclusive ACM pass offers free admission to five HIFF44 premiere screenings, access to industry panels, and invitations to special presentations at UH West Oʻahu, including screenings of renowned films.

Said ACM System Founder and Director Chris Lee, “We’re so excited to partner for a second year in the HIFF x ACM Accelerator program. Already, over 400 students and faculty from across the UH System have signed up for the free tickets and we’re going to keep the registration open through the Festival.”

Boba Fett, special screenings

One of the festival’s highlights is the in-person appearance of Star Wars actor Temuera Morrison at UH West Oʻahu on October 16, for a screening of . The event will be followed by a special presentation of , a documentary celebrating Hawaiian cultural icons, such as ʻIolani Luahine and Sonny Chillingworth, featuring precious images out of the campus’ premiere archive,

Beyond screenings, ACM students can dive deeper into the festival through networking events like the Cinema and Media Mentor program, and HIFF’s Metaverse, which connects them with media professionals globally. These opportunities expand their exposure to the broader film and media industries, helping them explore career paths beyond the classroom.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of �鶹��ý Academy for Creative Media through the HIFFxACM Accelerator program. This initiative has proven wildly popular and impactful for students and professors alike, providing our talented ACM participants with invaluable access to the festival and fostering vital connections within the film industry. HIFF is excited to support the next generation of filmmakers as they explore their creative potential and engage with the rich tapestry of international cinema,” said Beckie Stocchetti, HIFFexecutive director.

The HIFFxACM Accelerator program aims to empower students through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and a deeper understanding of international cinema. HIFF continues its mission to promote cultural exchange among the people of Asia, the Pacific, and North America while advancing film literacy and career development for �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s emerging filmmakers.

ACM System supports 16 different programs across all 10 UH campuses.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa will host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) from Spain to teach courses in Hispanic cinema and culture in the (LLEA) during the 2024–25 academic year. Ruth Gutiérrez Delgado, an expert in Spanish film, will offer classes on film, culture and literature.

“LLEA is delighted to have Dr. Ruth Gutiérrez Delgado teaching in the ,” said Lucía Aranda, a Spanish professor and LLEA chair at UH Mānoa. “Her expertise in film studies and her reputation as a film scholar in the Hispanic world provides an extraordinary opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to explore new perspectives and engage in a broader transnational dialog.”

Gutiérrez Delgado is a senior lecturer at the School of Communication at the University of Navarre, Spain. Her primary research interests lie in the study of poetics, myth, and heroism in audiovisual texts, along with exploring the cognitive nature of fiction from a philosophical perspective. Her work spans analyses of the cinema of John Ford, Spanish and German film, family representation in TV fiction, and the myth of Quixote in Eastern Europe.

More on the Fulbright SIR program

The Fulbright SIR program brings visiting scholars from abroad to U.S. colleges and universities, helping the institutions internationalize their curricula, campuses and surrounding communities and diversify the educational experiences of their students, faculty and staff.

Gutiérrez Delgado is one of forty-three Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence, and among 1,000 outstanding foreign faculty and professionals who will teach and pursue research in the U.S. for the 2024–25 academic year through the worldwide Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.

Until the end of February, a selection of films crafted by graduates from the (SCA) at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa will take the spotlight on . The streaming service, known for its mix of classic, contemporary, international and Hollywood films, is showcasing the work of five talented UH Mānoa alumni.

Curated by kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiian) filmmaker Taylour Chang, users exploring the site can get a taste of the short films produced by SCA graduates through a one minute and 30-second showcase named

Short films

The Moon and the Night by 2014 SCA graduate Erin Lau. Lau has gone on to direct the acclaimed short films All I Ever Wanted and Inheritance, which was supported by Netflix and Tribeca Studios and also awarded the Best �鶹��ý Short Film at the �鶹��ý International Film Festival (HIFF).

The Pit Where We Were Born, produced by 2012 SCA graduate Alexander Bocchieri. In addition to documentary and commercial work, Bocchieri has since directed , a short film for Disney Launchpad which is now streaming on Disney+.

Molokaʻi Bound by 2012 SCA graduate Alika Maikau Tengan. Tengan has subsequently directed the feature length film, , distributed by Gravitas Ventures. A feature-length adaptation of Molokaʻi Bound, with support from a $500,000 feature film grant from independent film distribution company ARRAY and Google, is currently in the final stages of post-production.

• Related UH News story: $500K awarded to rising ʻŌiwi filmmaker, UH ACM Mānoa alum, November 9, 2021

Down on the Sidewalk in Waikīkī, by Justyn Ah Chong. Written and featuring a lead performance by 2010 SCA graduate ʻĀina Paikai, the film was followed up by Hawaiian Soul, a narrative short film about Hawaiian activist and musician George Helm. After playing to acclaim at HIFF, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and Maoriland Film Festival, Hawaiian Soul is currently being adapted by Paikai into a feature film.

Exclusive premiere

by UH Mānoa alumnus Christopher Makoto Yogi takes center stage with its exclusive streaming premiere on The Criterion Channel. Distributed by Strand Releasing, the film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and earned recognition from The New Yorker as one of the top films of 2021.

Other short films directed by Yogi are also streaming: Layover, on the Shore, Obake, Makoto: Or, Honesty, Suddenly, Honolulu (2015) Occasionally, I Saw Glimpses of �鶹��ý, Suddenly, Honolulu (2016) and a still place.

The School of Cinematic Arts is housed in the at UH Mānoa.

A state-of-the-art film studio at the that will transform the campus and have a major impact on the film and television industry in the state took a significant step closer to becoming a reality. UH has selected the Island Film Group team, a diverse group with local and national experience in film studio and commercial development and operations, as the project developer.

The Island Film Group team envisions a multi-purpose entertainment campus for studio employees and the UH West Oʻahu (UHWO) community consisting of a public-serving town square with live-work, retail, dining, lodging, and office space, along with a private, secured film studio that would include modern sound stages and other support facilities.

“This project is not only important for the local film industry and the state’s economy, it will also support our educational mission by providing our students direct workforce experience with industry professionals for mentoring, networking, internship, and career development opportunities,” said UH President David Lassner. “This initial step paves the way to unprecedented opportunity for (ACM) students at UHWO and all our UH campuses as well as for the West Oʻahu region and the entire state of �鶹��ý.”

The development team includes Island Film Group, SHM Partners, Hawaii Media Inc., and CR50 Production Ventures.

“We are excited to be a part of this next chapter in the growth of the �鶹��ý film and television industry,” said Island Film Group co-founder Ricardo Galindez. “The new studio, along with our incredible local crew base, will allow �鶹��ý to compete directly with production locations all around the world.”

The 34-acre undeveloped site is adjacent to the new Keoneʻae rail station, bus transit, and park-and-ride facilities. The studio location is bound by Farrington Highway to the north, Kualakaʻi Parkway to the east, the UH West Oʻahu campus to the south, and the �鶹��ý Tokai International College campus to the west.

With this first step in the process, UH will now begin negotiating the terms of a development agreement and long-term ground lease that must be reviewed and approved by the UH Board of Regents. As part of the expected agreement, the Island Film Group team will design, build, finance, operate, manage, and maintain the project for the life of the long-term lease. Ownership would revert back to UH when the ground lease expires. The Island Film Group team was selected based on their response to the Invitation to Submit Proposals UH issued in June 2023.

“On top of the academic opportunities for our students, this project will dramatically change life at UH West Oʻahu, with the public square, retail and dining options, our campus will increasingly become a hub of activity,” said UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Maenette Benham. “We will look to build on the energy it creates and continue to grow as our community grows.”

“This is the natural next step in the evolution of the UH Academy for Creative Media,” said ACM Founder and Director Chris Lee. “Combined with our adjacent $37 million ACM Student Production Center at UHWO, this state-of-the-art studio complex will propel ACM to the top ranks of media schools globally. Because one of the requirements of this partnership is integration with ACM, our local students will have enormous career opportunities to stay in the islands with living wage jobs as talent both above and below the line. This combination will strengthen our vital production industry through workforce development and diversify �鶹��ý’s economy away from an over-reliance on tourism.”

“This project is a game-changer for the creative media industry and film productions in �鶹��ý,” said Lassner. “It will be one of the most significant steps in the state to create large numbers of high-quality jobs that will enable our students to thrive here in �鶹��ý.”

The partnered up with the (HOMA) for the inaugural Sustainability Film Series that runs from September to December with three events.

Organized by UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s , the School of Cinematic Arts, Environmental Humanities and the Doris Duke Theatre, the series features scientists, policymakers, nonprofit experts and artists that share their exploration and solutions with issues facing human and natural environments.

It kicked off September 22 and featured the 2018 film The Rights of Nature: a Global Movement directed by Isaac Goeckeritz, María Valeria Berro and Hal Crimmel.

“The reason we created this series is to build community connectivity around critical sustainability issues faced by Hawaiʻi and the world. Each event includes a discussion about how community members can get involved,” said Ketty Loeb of the UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s Institute for Sustainability and Resilience. “The first event, which focused on the rights of nature movement, was a big success—the Doris Duke Theatre sold out, and we had a really exciting and thought provoking panel discussion.”

A panel composed of Native Hawaiian philosopher and Konohiki for Kūlana o Kapolei professor Manulani Aluli Meyer, director of the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law Kapuaʻala Sproat and managing attorney in the Mid-Pacific regional office of EarthJustice Isaac Morikawe were in attendance after the showing of the film.

The will take place on October 21 and is open for . Food sustainability and climate change will be the main focus and feature two locally produced films, Kumu Niu directed by Alex Cantatore and Roots of ʻUlu directed by John Atonelli, as well as a brand new animated short film titled Amplifying Feedback Loop, Directed by Vanessa Sweet.

These films will be discussed by panelists Papaliʻi Tusi Avegaio, who is a retired director of the UH Pacific Business Center Program and coconut and breadfruit activist; Indrajit Gunasekara of Niu Now!; Cheryse Kaui San, General Manager of MAʻO Organic Farms; and Assistant Professor Subhashni Raj from UH Department of Urban and Regional planning. Vilsoni Hereniko from the UH Mānoa School of Cinematic Arts will moderate this panel.

“As a participant in the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Plants and Climate Change Education peer learning group (PLACCE), one of our objectives is to provide opportunities for the general public to learn about climate change and its effects on our native plants and culturally important plants in �鶹��ý,” said Raedelle Van Fossen, the UH Mānoa Lyon Arboretum education manager. Lyon Arboretum and the US Botanic Gardenʻs PLACCE program are co-sponsors for the series.

The last event will take place on December 1 with a focus on the impact of sea levels rising in the Pacific and feature Anote’s Ark and Rise: From One Island to Another.

A panel discussion including Rise director Dan Lin, Tammy Tabe from Oceana Research Fellow at the East-West Center, Tarawa Taubo a former senior registrar at the Kirabati Judiciary, and Alexander Yee, a Coastal and Water Program Manager at the City & County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience.

The series is free of charge thanks to sponsorship from The Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, Lyon Arboretum, the U.S. Botanic Garden through the PLACCE peer learning group,Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center, and the Scholars Strategy Network.

More than 100 University of �鶹��ý (ACM) System students will be reaping the benefits of a new partnership with the (HIFF)—the , which was announced this summer.

Any ACM System student in �鶹��ý can for a free HIFFxACM Accelerator student pass to the 43rd �鶹��ý International Film Festival presented by Halekulani (October 12–22 on Oʻahu and through November 5, on Maui, Kauaʻi, Lanaʻi and �鶹��ý Island), which includes:

• Five free admissions to day-of screenings (tickets limited by availability)
• Invitation to HIFFxACM Gather networking event (Metaverse virtual event)
• Invitation to all HIFF industry panels
• Free HIFF industry membership for the year

By early October, more than 130 students had signed up. Among the perks for the ACM System students—access to the first HIFF screening and guest speaker to be held at UH West Oʻahu.

On October 21, 2–3:30 p.m. an ʻUluʻulu film presentation and panel, in partnership with Bishop Museum, will feature three episodes of Treasures, a docuseries that was produced and broadcast on KHON in 1985. Treasures will be shown at the UH West Oʻahu ACM campus, a state-of-the-art facility and headquarters of ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of �鶹��ý.

Also on October 21, 4–5:30 p.m., a conversation with celebrated Māori actor, Cliff Curtis, whose work ranges from The Piano, Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider, to playing different ethnicities in major motion pictures and network series over more than three decades. Audiences will gain insight into a journeyman actor’s career, reflecting the past, present and future of Pasifika entertainment.

“We are so excited for this partnership that is bringing HIFF to UH West Oʻahu ACM and the West Oʻahu region for the first time,” said ACM System Founder and Director Chris Lee. “And 20 years after our first ACM short films debuted at HIFF, we could not be prouder to see that the majority of �鶹��ý-made films are either debuts from UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s ACM:School of Cinematic Arts students, premieres from our ACM graduates, or features that our students and graduates worked on for other local filmmakers.”

Lee added that the HIFFxACM Accelerator also helps HIFF bring educational and screening opportunities to the neighbor islands and ACM System programs there, something he hopes to expand upon in coming years.

A locally produced independent film infused with the many talents of faculty and alumni from the , is nominated for Best Feature at the film festival. Mermaids’ Lament premieres June 25 at the historic Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California. Get tickets and learn more about the festival .

Mermaids’ Lament—a creative psychological drama that explores the resiliency of women—is directed by Geoffrey B. Hajim, a professional filmmaker who lives in Pāpaʻikou on �鶹��ý Island. Over his 25-year career, Hajim has completed more than 150 projects, from television spots to the first feature film in the Hawaiian language. He has taught film at and worked with drama students who have gone on to study at UH Hilo.

The film is the story of two women who find strength in each other despite their personal struggles. Oee is played by UH Hilo alumna Dayva Summer Escobar and her therapist, Dr. Nell Jamison, is played by UH Hilo Associate Professor of Drama Justina Mattos.

“One of the joys of working on this film is that I was able to perform opposite one of my former acting students, Dayva Escobar, who just graduated from UH Hilo,” said Mattos about her student who graduated from UH Hilo in 2021. “As a teacher, it is very rewarding to see your students excel and thrive beyond the classroom. I was so proud to see the focus and professionalism that she brought to the set. Beyond that, Dayva is a very kind and socially conscious human being, and I feel that her performance in this film really brings out those traits in the character of Oee.”

To learn more about the film and crew, visit

—By Susan Enright

From the opening embrace through the breathtaking scenery, aloha permeates student Ken Alba’s video, which recently won the 2023 career and technical education (CTE) student video contest. It will be showcased at the (ACTE) conference in Honolulu in April 2024. The region includes Guam and 16 western U.S. states.

“Since it will be viewed by a mainland audience, I wanted to open with the word ‘aloha’ and its meaning,” said Alba. “I want to show how ‘aloha’ unites us not only in terms of its literal meaning ‘breath of life’ in light of the pandemic, lockdowns and chaos, but also as a way of life, to love and care for others as well as ourselves. I also wanted to show how learning in �鶹��ý is unique because of our environment, our community and the Hawaiian culture. Finally, I wanted to emphasize that all this is made possible by our teachers as they lay the foundation for future generations.”

Alba will graduate from the UH Maui College (ACM) program this spring. Alba’s instructors have been impressed with his work and drive from the start.

“Like many of our Academy for Creative Media Maui students, Ken arrived motivated to learn and already possessing a wealth of skill and ability,” said ACM Program Coordinator Brian Kohne. “He’s applied himself and taken advantage of the many talented instructors on our team, and the work for which he is now being recognized reflects dedication and acumen as a visual storyteller. His future is bright, indeed.”

This was the second year of the , open to all high school and college students in �鶹��ý. Alba’s winning submission was shown for the first time publicly at the in January.

“We wanted to give insight into how fortunate we are to be able to live and learn in �鶹��ý. What better way to do so than to see this from the eyes of our students?,” said �鶹��ý ACTE President William Castillo. “The board and all the conference attendees were absolutely blown away by the quality and authenticity of Ken’s submission.”

Movie stars such as Anne Hathaway and Brooke Shields were among celebrities and filmmakers flocking to Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah this month for the return of the Sundance Film Festival. They were among thousands celebrating the debut of independent films that included a feature that University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� Academy for Creative Media (ACM) system founder Chris Lee and ACM alumnus Reynolds Barney helped to bring to the screen.

“Being able to showcase my work on such a big stage and having the opportunity to connect with other filmmakers and industry professionals is truly special,” Barney said.

Barney edited while Lee served as executive producer on , a film about an aspiring Indonesian rapper recording his U.S. debut album at a �鶹��ý resort all while trying to tame the demands of a suffocating father and the music industry. The drama feature was co-written and directed by Justin Chon, a familiar face to Twilight movie buffs who commonly praise him for his role as Eric Yorkie. Jamojaya premiered at Sundance on January 22 and was scheduled for six screenings. This marks the third year in a row works by alumni from the UH ����ԴDz� filmmaking academy were featured.

“Sundance is the most competitive film festival in the U.S.,” said Lee. “Getting into Sundance is a universal metric of quality and shows that ACM‘s film school at UH ����ԴDz� can compete with all the schools on the continent.”

Out of 15,855 film submissions, only 110 feature length narratives and documentaries were chosen for this year’s festival, according to Sundance. ACM is no stranger to the prestigious festival. In 2021, UH ����ԴDz� ACM grad Alika Maikau’s Everyday in Kaimuki was selected, and in 2020 UH ����ԴDz� alumnus Christopher Makoto Yogi’s I Was A Simple Man was featured, as well.

“As graduates of the first majority NHAAPI [Native Hawaiian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander] creative media school in the world, I could not be prouder of previous ACM Sundance directors Christopher Yogi, Alika Tengan and editor Reynolds Barney as well as all of our graduates,” Lee added.

• Related UH News stories:
  �鶹��ý����ԴDz� graduate’s film to compete, premiere at Sundance, January 19, 2021
  Sundance premieres alumni film about leaving �鶹��ý, KTUH featured, January 18, 2022

Barney graduated from UH ����ԴDz�’s ACM in 2014 and began editing professionally after making the move to Los Angeles. The ʻEwa Beach native credits the academy for teaching him the importance of collaboration and communication.

“We are delighted and proud that ACM alumnus, Reynolds Barney, is continuing to shine as an editor,” said Anne Misawa, associate professor at ACM ����ԴDz�. “He’s setting a high standard of excellence for our students to inspire to.”

Barney just completed a short film, “The Roof” directed by fellow UH ����ԴDz� ACM alumnus Alexander Bocchieri, which is set for release soon on Disney+.

A documentary featuring two food sustainability champions and their work with the NiU NOW! movement has won awards at the in Austria and the (HIFF).

The 15-minute short film Kumu Niu follows Manulani Aluli Meyer, Konohiki (head) of Kūlana o Kapole​i, and Indrajit Gunasekara, a financial aid officer, as they work with their community to plant a new grove of niu (coconut) and ʻulu (breadfruit) on the UH West Oʻahu campus.

Kumu Niu earned a in the Human Planet—Short Form category, in September. The film received in November. In addition, the film was selected to be featured on from December 2022 through March 2023 as part of a partnership between HIFF and the airlines.

“This lovingly created documentary is connected to our friendship with Dr. Heather McMillen of �鶹��ý’s Urban Forestry Program,” said Meyer. “Director Alex Cantatore was inspired to bring forth this controversial subject because it is part of a larger world story of cultural resilience and Indigenous acumen dedicated to loving land and serving people. It’s time to pay attention.”

‘Tree Stories’ part of bigger story

Gunasekara and Meyer established the Uluniu Project—an effort​ to​ engage in the practices of​ food security, cultural dissemination of knowledge, and the growing of student leadership through aloha ʻāina (love of the land)—at the campus and expanded it in 2021 with 264 seedlings in its Niu Nursery​.

“We had an opportunity to tell a small portion of a story of our tree of life, the coconut tree, that continues to inspire us in this ancient Indigenous relationship that stretches back beyond millennials, as well as guides us into the future during a time when we are greatly challenged with the issues of food security and the change of climate,” Gunasekara said.

The documentary was directed by Cantatore of QuickActCasual Productions for the (NASF) as part of its “Tree Stories” series, a collection of short films that illustrates the importance of the different bonds that people enjoy with trees.

“I am overjoyed at the reception of Kumu Niu, especially at HIFF on Oʻahu, the home of the NiU NOW! movement,” said Cantatore. “The film is a celebration of their crucial work for food sovereignty and it means the world to me to see those efforts elevated in such a powerful way.”

Since its release in April 2022, Kumu Niu has been screened at various other film festivals, including San Diego ShortsFest, Awareness Film Festival, BendFilm Festival and Red Nation International Film Festival.

For more, go to .

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

My Dog Has Fleas. A half Hawaiian young woman returns from the mainland to her birthplace of Oʻahu only to be greeted with judgment and shame.

Students from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (ACM) in the are walking away from the 42nd annual (HIFF) with invaluable lessons. From presenting their filmmaking chops to working behind the scenes at HIFF, ACM students gained priceless experiences at the world-renowned film festival this November.

HIFF selected six ACM UH ����ԴDz� student shorts to showcase in HIFF’s which included animation, drama and even a musical. The short films were made available for online screenings across the globe.

• My Dog Has Fleas, directed by Justin Pascua
• Kites, directed by Debbie Kwon
• Look Up To The Stars, directed by Florence Jane Andres
• Home, directed by Jiwoo Lee
• Cringe Kid Kyle: The Musical, directed by Ian Severino
• TALA, directed by Justin Ocampo

Insider’s view

This fall, an inaugural UH ����ԴDz� ACM course also introduced students to different perspectives of a film festival; as participants, filmmakers and event coordinators. The ACM 386 Techniques: Film Festivals course prepared 11 students to shadow HIFF organizers this year to get an insider’s view of what it takes to put on the festival. HIFF allowed students to participate in areas such as programming, press, marketing, guest services and special events. They were also provided access to the festival screenings and events which allowed them to participate from an audience and filmmaker’s perspective.

Related: Be the film critic, UH ����ԴDz� film students want you, October 2022

Nuts and bolts of the trade

Six UH ����ԴDz� ACM students were also selected to participate in HIFF’s online creators and critics immersive program. The new private mentoring opportunity pairs students with professional critics and content creators to learn how to craft film criticism texts and gain insight on logistics, brand building, sponsorship opportunities and growing audiences. Participants were mentored in writing, podcasting, video essays and vlogging. The inaugural program is a reimagining of the Roger Ebert Young Writers Program.