Celebrate the 37th Hawaii International Film Festival by checking out these film selections.
The Hawaii International Film Festival presented by Halekulani is back and celebrating 37 years as the leading film festival supporting and showcasing content and creatives from Asia, the Pacific, and North America. With over 160 films from a span of 45 countries, this 10-day festival has an array of films to choose from. As a sponsor of this year’s event, Lei is proud to present these following LGBT films. Watch the video below of Anderson Le, the co-director of programming at HIFF, to learn more about this film category.
Call Me by Your Name
Brazil, France, Italy, United States 2017 | English, French, German, Italian with English Subtitles | 132min
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Nov. 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
Elio Perlman spends the summer with his family at their northern Italian home where he meets Oliver, a doctoral student interning for Elio’s father. Together, they share an unforgettable summer and the awakening romantic desire that will change their lives forever.
Alaska is a Drag
United States 2017 | English | 90min
Director: Shaz Bennett
Nov. 3, 8:30 p.m. | Nov. 6, 3:30 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
Trapped in a monotony of fistfights and fish guts, aspiring drag superstar, Leo, attracts the attention of a local boxing couch (Hawaii’s Jason Scott Lee). When a new boy named Declan (Matt Dallas) wants to be his sparring partner, Leo must face the real reason he is stuck in Alaska.
Those Long Haired Nights
Philippines 2017 | Tagalog | 72min
Director: Gerardo Calagui
Nov. 4 | 6:45 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
Manila’s red light Burgos district intertwines the lives of three transgender women who provide sexual services. The three close friends share a chaotic night of misguided love, a christening, and drug dealing on the road to pursuing the love and success they have dreamed of.
Alphabet Soup Shorts
Game | Director: Jeannie Donohoe | 15min
Little Potato | Director: Wes Hurley | 14min
Sunday Fun Day | Director: Dianna Fuemana | 15min
Pria | Director: Yudho Aditya | 22min
U | Director: Lala Openi | 5min
Dad’s Wedding | Director: Momoko Fukuda | 30min
Nov. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
From coming-of-age as a gay teen, to coming-out as a transgender woman and dad in Japan, these short stories about life as an LGBTQIA person around the globe share and teach about self-love, discovery, and acceptance.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
France 2017 | French with English Subtitles | 144min
Director: Robin Campillo
Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m. | Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
With AIDS already claiming numerous lives by the early 90s, Nathan, a new member of the Act-Up Paris group, helped fight for general indifference and observes the intense passion which drives Sean, an outspoken advocate, to give everything to this struggle.
Close-Knit
Japan 2017 | Japanese with English Subtitles | 127min
Director: Naoko Ogigami
Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m. | Nov. 10, 1:45 p.m. | Regal Dole Cannery Stadium
A maternally neglected 11-year-old girl, Tomo, turns to her uncle and his transgender girlfriend to look after her. Rinko seeks the approval of the guarded youngster through tender affection despite the unconventional complications, and ultimately, the three cultivate a deep-rooted bond.
Visit hiff.org to learn more about the programs and to see the full schedule of films.