‘Ohina Labs 2025 Greenlight Award winner announced

Honolulu-based nonprofit ‘Ohina announced the 2025 Greenlight Award-winning filmmaker and project from its annual ‘Ohina Labs.

Katelyn Chong of Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu won the Greenlight for her script “Shop Local” — granting her production support and $10,000 in production funds toward the completion of her short film.

Sean Oketani with his script “Kaikamāhine” won The Judges Award of $2,500 and development support.

‘Ohina Labs 2025 — providing current and former Hawai‘i residents an opportunity to submit short screenplays to be workshopped with leading entertainment industry professionals — welcomed 10 fellows to a free mentorship intensive starting in November after a competitive review process of their script submissions.

‘Ohina Labs 2025 paired selected participants with guest mentors Bryson Chun, staff writer for “Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.” on Disney+; Mitchel Merrick, director/writer for “Water Like Fire” and “Kūkini”; and Bao Tran, director/writer of “The Paper Tigers.”

Mentors and guest judges joining the Labs’ Pitch Day session included Noah Evslin, a producer/writer for “NCIS: Hawai‘i” and Jordan Kandell, producer/writer “Adrift.”

The intensive workshop was hosted at Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design, a center of the Doris Duke Foundation, in Honolulu and sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Health,

‘Ohina also hosted its inaugural Producers Lab — complementing and coinciding with the annual short script intensive — with its first year focused on an invite-only cohort of three producer fellows: Serena Rio Flores, Eli Cusick and Dymond Cabildo.

They were joined by mentors Al’n Duong, producer “The Paper Tigers,” and Averie Joy Maikalima O Makua Huffine, co-executive producer of “Just Beyond” on Disney+.

Katelyn Chong’s greenlit script will now be produced by the three fellows from the Producers Lab, with creative mentorship from Marvel Studios Vice President of Production and Development Stephen Broussard.

Some of the mentors, inspired by the work by last year’s cohort, also offered to provide extended support to help select projects move forward, as noted below.

‘Ohina Labs 2025 writer fellows and their short scripts were:

• Katelyn Chong with “Shop Local” (‘Ohina Greenlight Award).
• Zack Rikito Harris with “Hukilau.”
• Cherish “CJ” Keauhou Joao with “No Scared, Go Get Em!”
• Aukai Ligairi with “Indigenous | Technology” (Additional mentorship to be provided by Noah Evslin).
• Didier Navarro with “Chasing Mafu.”
• Sean Oketani with “Kaikamāhine” (‘Ohina Judges Award).
• Geronimo Son with “Right Under Our Feet.”
• Nickolaus Sugai with “Hannah and the Wedding” (Additional mentorship to be provided by Bryson Chun).
• Jack Truesdale with “The Islanders” (Additional mentorship to be provided by Jordan Kandell).
• Jonathan Wolfe with “Tourist.”

‘Ohina Labs was launched in 2017 to offer a development hub for short film projects in any genre by starting at the story level, with scripts written by some of Hawai‘i’s most exciting storytellers and filmmakers.

Some projects emerging since secured distribution deals and make waves around the international festival circuit. They also had the opportunity to be screened at the annual ‘Ohina Showcase.

Visit the ‘Ohina website for additional information about the filmmakers workshop and ‘Ohina.