HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With the 45th annual Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF45) kicking off Wednesday, film enthusiasts and moviegoers have their pick of 72 feature films and 143 short films.
Eleven feature films were selected for the Made in Hawaii category, including “Reeling,” by local filmmaker Yana Alliata.
Set on Oahu, the film is a psychological drama that centers on the main character, Ryan, following a life-altering accident. Struggling to fit in, he attends a birthday luau on his family’s homestead. The celebration boils over when Ryan uncovers the missing memory of when his life took a tragic turn.
“It was so much fun, because as a non-indigenous kamaaina filmmaker, to be able to share a part of the Hawaiian culture that I was raised in, grew up in, and loved so dearly with mainland audiences,” said Alliata, who co-wrote and directed the film.
Alliata said of the cinematography, “I wanted to capture basically the memory of Hawaii, and I wanted to capture the ’60s and ’70s feel of filming, like a filmic vibe to Hawaii instead of what we’re used to seeing, which is the oversaturated, kind of poppy, like touristic view of it.”
Actor Nick White added, “We filmed over, I think, only a week or so, which apparently is a very, very short and pressured amount of time.”
“Reeling” premiered at the South by Southwest film festival in March. It will make its Hawaii premiere on Oct. 17 and 20 at Kahala Consolidated Theaters.
“We’re so excited to be here for HIFF and to showing this to local audiences and so many of my actors are actually from here, live here, and just very exciting to see this project come to life,” said Alliata.
Alliata hopes films like “Reeling” inspire the next generation of Hawaii filmmakers.
“I want people to know that who you are is a reflection, your art is supposed to be a reflection of who you are and the memories made in Hawaii and growing up in Hawaii as a kamaaina filmmaker is very important to me and to share that with the world,” said Alliata.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets for the Hawaii International Film Festival.
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