HONOLULU (KHON) — The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), presented by Halekulani, is celebrating its 45th anniversary with a lineup that highlights the power of film to bring cultures together.
This year’s theme, “Convergence,” underscores the festival’s mission of showcasing diverse voices from Hawaii, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and beyond.
HIFF45 will feature more than 200 films from 44 countries, including 36 world premieres.
The festival opens with the Hawaii premiere of “Rental Family,” directed by Hikari and starring Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser. The centerpiece film, “No Other Choice,” comes from acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who is also among this year’s honorees. Other honorees include actress Melanie Lynskey, Japanese comedian Yuriyan Retriever, and action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki.
For the first time, HIFF will launch the HIFILM Industry Conference, a three-day event in Honolulu bringing together filmmakers, producers, and industry leaders for panels, workshops, and networking.
HIFF runs Oct. 15 to 26 on Oahu, with screenings across the neighbor islands through mid-November.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available now at HIFF.org.