Hawai’i Women in Filmmaking are celebrating SWAN Day this year with their second Women Of Wonders Film Festival on March 29 and 30. The 2-day festival presents films directed by women that highlight and celebrate the lives and accomplishments of women in Hawai‘i and around the world.
All the films are FREE (donations welcomed) and begin at 6:00 pm at The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nu‘uanu Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii. Donations will be used to fund scholarships for their 2014 Summer Reel Camps for Girls, which provide training in basic filmmaking and animation.
Tutu Ruth
Saturday March 29, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Happy Birthday, Tutu Ruth by Ann Marie Kirk (View trailer)
This is the story of 90- year-old Ruth Makaila Kaholoa‘a, a force of nature from Waipio Valley on Hawai‘i island. This film vividly captures the spirit and strength of this beautiful Hawaiian woman as she shares stories of her life and of Waipi’o Valley.
Kai Wahine by Ann Marie Kirk
Kai Wahine tells the story of the women who participate in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race, which is a 41 mile outrigger race across the Ka Iwi ocean channel, from the island of Moloka’i to O’ahu. While the story is told through the women of the Waimanalo Canoe Club, it also includes interviews with paddlers from other canoe crews statewide on topics such as why they paddle, why it is important to them to cross the channel, and the sacrifices and rewards they gain through this experience.
E Haku Inoa by Christine Marquez (View Trailer)
Christen Hepuakoa Marquez
A young multi-racial Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) woman, filmmaker Christen Hepuakoa Marquez, sets out to discover the meaning of her incredibly lengthy Hawaiian name from her estranged mother whose diagnosis as schizophrenic in the 80′s caused their family separation. Christen discovers not only herself within the name, but gains a whole new perspective on the idea of sanity and how cultural differences can sometimes muddle its definition.
Sunday March 30, 2014 at 6:00 pm
High Bid by Meagan Flynn – How much would you pay? A teen manipulates her mother for help on the Internet.
Das Fest der Liebe by Anna Kirst – What seems like just a little fling to Louise means the world to Lucas, her lover which could destroy her perfect little family world.
Awakenings by Marisa Prince – A dramatic short film that captures critical moments in two women’s lives.
Substitute Teacher by Shiri Price – Ariela, entering a new high school class as a substitute teacher where she meets David, wonders if she has what it takes to become a mother after all.
Under a Different Sky by Betsy Kawamura – In this short film, Yongmi Park shares her story of survival.
Simulacrum by Duygu Bostanci – A woman waits to cross the street. There are lots of cars and noise in the street. She covers her eye with a fabric and turns her head up. She creates a dream to escape from everyday life routine and city life. However dream collapses and she turns back to her life like always she does.
Tsuyako by Mitsuyo Miyazaki – In postwar Japan, Tsuyako, a factory worker and mother must decide between duty and love, her family and her freedom.
Hawai‘i Women in Filmmaking was founded in 2011, and is fiscally sponsored by the Hawai‘i People’s Fund. Their mission is to promote greater visibility and public awareness of women’s works in film; to strive for a diverse and positive representation of women in media; and to create the conditions for girls and women to express themselves through the medium of film. In addition to the Women of Wonders Film Festival, they offer monthly gatherings of filmmakers, summer filmmaking camps for girls, and a variety of other educational activities. For more information, please visit: http://hawaiiwomeninfilmmaking.org/