EXCLUSIVE: Actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim has come on board to government produce Makawalu, a characteristic movie initiated by Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), totally created and to be co-directed by eight Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) filmmakers.
The undertaking, the most important budgeted indie characteristic totally created by Kanaka Maoli expertise, is absolutely funded by the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis (RWJF), the Asian American Basis (TAAF), and Pacific Islanders in Communication (PIC). Greater than 90% of the undertaking’s financing comes from organisations invested in change which can be based mostly outdoors Hawaii.
At present in pre-production, the characteristic begins taking pictures in spring 2025 for an early 2026 launch. The eight filmmakers are Justyn Ah Chong, Taylour Chang, Ty Sanga, Ciara Lacy, Āina Paikai, Erin Lau, Scott W. Kekama Amona and Katherine Wong.
First offered in 2021, the Makawalu undertaking concerned an in depth choice course of after which the eight filmmakers participated in a five-day filmmaker lab and retreat in Honolulu with high-profile business mentors.
Kim, recognized for his performing roles in Misplaced and Hawaii 5-0, can be a producer (The Good Physician) and has been a Hawaii resident for nearly 20 years. He began working with the Makawalu filmmakers on the writers retreat in 2021, together with different mentors together with Kerry Warkia (Waru), Amy Hill (Magnum PI) and Kiel McNaughton (The Legend Of Baron To’a).
“Makawalu represents an necessary step in recognizing Native Hawaiian filmmakers and the facility of their tales. As somebody who’s labored with this gifted group firsthand, it’s been an honor to have the ability to amplify their voices and assist this undertaking come to life,” stated Kim.
Publish-retreat, the filmmakers continued to develop the script and manufacturing by way of month-to-month workshops and mentorship with business figures together with Sean Baker (Anora), Sara Wayne Callies (The Strolling Useless) and Dana Ledoux Miller (co-writer and co-director of Disney’s upcoming Moana 2).
Different producers on the undertaking embody Sundance alum Sarah S. Kim (August At Akiko’s), and HIFF Creative Director Anderson Le. John Cheng of 3AD Media can even government produce.
Makawalu tells the story of a typical July 4th “luau” on the island of Oahu via eight totally different views. The phrase Makawalu, in fashionable ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) terminology, references “totally different views of a state of affairs.”
“The filmmakers crafted a layered screenplay that may unpack many ongoing points that fashionable Native Hawaiians face,” stated HIFF Creative Director Anderson Le. “From the exotification of Native Hawaiian tradition in Hollywood media, to the repercussions of American colonization via capitalism and militarization of Hawai‘i, Makawalu explores what it means to be ‘Hawaiian’, being priced out of ‘paradise’, all on U.S. Independence Day.”
HIFF Govt Director and Makawalu government producer, Beckie Stocchetti, stated: “The intention of the Makawalu undertaking is to offer a chance and entry for these groundbreaking filmmakers to have full possession over the telling of their story from their perspective. With a view to make that occur we additionally wanted to basically change the standard financing construction of unbiased movie.”
With the manufacturing funded and able to shoot in early 2025, HIFF will formally launch HIFF Studios, to help unbiased movie productions in Hawaii, with a set of help of financing, authorized, and artist improvement packages to extend profession alternatives and develop an business pipeline for Hawaiian and Pacific Islander creatives.
