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HIFF · Honolulu, USA

Hawai'i International Film Festival

Founded 1981Usually OctoberHonolulu (Oahu), with neighbor-island screenings

A showcase of films from Asia, the Pacific and North America, with a longstanding emphasis on cinema that bridges East and West.

The festival

Founded in 1981 as a project of the East-West Center, HIFF is one of the oldest and most established film festivals in the United States focused on Asian and Pacific cinema. It presents a broad program of features, documentaries and shorts each fall, primarily in Honolulu.

Worth knowing

HIFF has long served as a meeting point for Asian, Pacific Islander and Western filmmaking traditions, reflecting Hawai'i's position between the U.S. mainland and Asia. Its programming regularly includes new work from across Asia alongside Asian American and Native Hawaiian filmmakers.

How to attend

The public buys tickets and passes through the festival's website, with screenings held at Honolulu theaters and additional dates on neighbor islands.

Official site →

Dates and programs change year to year — check the official site for the current edition.