‘Ohina Short Film Festival Coming to Big Island

Hawai‘i’s biggest short film festival is coming to the Big Island and will present projects with a creative connection to the islands throughout the month of September in the ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase.

The Hilo premiere for 2018 will be held at Palace Theatre on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at 7 p.m.

September dates include:

• Sept. 28 – Hilo, Palace Theater
• Sept. 29 – Waimea, Hawai‘i, Kahilu Theatre
• Sept. 7 – Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Theatre
• Sept. 21 – Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului

The 2018 film lineup features Hae Hawai‘i The Thief,  Kālewa, Last Taxi Dance, Mauka to Makai and The Moon and the Night. Many of the films presented at this year’s showcase are products of the ‘Ohina Labs program and will have their world premieres at the Hawai‘i Theatre.

Kālewa, from Hawai‘i filmmaker Mitchel Viernes, was  produced and created in partnership with ‘Ohina for the 2018 showcase. Viernes presented his concept at a special ‘Ohina workshop hosted by Black Panther screenwriter Joe Robert Cole last year. The story was selected to get a “Greenlight Award” from ‘Ohina Films—granting Viernes full support towards the creation of his short film.

The ‘Ohina Short Film Showcase debuted in 1999 to support local independent filmmakers. Named with the Hawaiian term for “gathering” or “collecting,” ‘Ohina provides an annual venue for a collection of works to be gathered and presented to the community.

For more information, go online.