The 34th edition of Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) presented by Halekulani announced their Jury winners at a private ceremony this evening.

The Golden Orchid is bestowed upon the narrative and documentary films that best express artistic and technical excellence and promote cross-cultural understanding. Each nominated film furthers the Hawaii International Film Festival mandate to entertain, enlighten and empower. An international jury will selected films that articulate this manifesto consistent with the cross-pollination of words, ideas and images that comprise the kinetic and visceral power of film.

The Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Narrative Feature was awarded to director Shim Sung-bo for his the film, HAEMOO.

“Haemoo is a powerhouse debut from director Shim Sung-bo, who shows enormous potential for raising even further the profile of Asian and Pacific Rim cinema on the world stage. This is a visually arresting, riveting and compelling film, which displays both technical excellence, and a strong emotional core. The film simultaneously addresses universal questions of human nature and morality, and more specific issues, such as corruption, economic inequality and immigration.” said jurors. “With its strong commercial appeal, Haemoo is in the position to raise consciousness about human trafficking, its causes and terrible consequences.”

HAEMOO is also South Korea’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar®.

The jury also honored the thriller feature film, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT with honorable mentions for Director Ana Lily Amirpour and lead actress Sheila Vand.

The jurors shared that “A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT confirms Ana Lily Amirpour as a strong, incredibly original and imaginative new voice in American cinema. She has also given the world its first skateboarding hijab-clad female vampire, wonderfully embodied by actress Shelia Vand, whose performance is spellbinding.”

The Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Documentary Feature was awarded to WE ARE THE GIANT. Directed by Greg Barker, the film explores the recent protests around the world; each buoyed by predominantely young participants and social-media organizing, have exposed repression and led to regime changes.

“WE ARE THE GIANT grapples with perhaps the most difficult question of modernity and so humanely captures the delicate turning point between non-violent activism and armed conflict.” Said Doc juror Wei Fang. “The film’s power lies not only in sharing powerful stories from the Middle East, but also in showing us that even here in Hawaii, our participation in local activism is a profoundly important exercise to be engaged in.”
Founded in 1990 by Cinemaya and UNESCO, the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian film throughout the world. The prestigious NETPAC award is given at select international film festivals to promote Asian cinema by spotlighting exceptional works and discovering new talent. The NETPAC award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Pusan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawaii. HIFF is the only film festival in North America given permission to present the NETPAC award. This year, the NETPAC AWARD went to Kanu Bell for the narrative feature TITLI.

“Kanu Behl’s drama of a young man’s plot to escape from his violently criminal family is not only an extraordinarily realistic, tensely told tale of Delhi’s underworld, but a nuanced, original, clear-sighted look into how human bonds are forged – and the human soul tested – in the dark crucible of money and fear.” — Jury statement

The Audience Awards for Favorite Narrative Feature, Documentary and Short Film, presented by Hawaii News Now, will be announced on Tuesday November 11.