The 44th annual Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF44) will showcase 92 features and 114 shorts across the islands from October 2 to November 10, 2024. Taiwanese feature films nominated for NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) are “Hunter Brothers,” “Who'll Stop the Rain,” and “Dead Talents Society,” and four shorts, “Tayal Forest Club,” “Fortune Cookie,” “Mamu,” and “Where the Mountain Women Sing?” are among the lineups.
Su Hung-En’s directorial debut, "Hunter Brothers," tells the story of Indigenous brothers who embark on different life paths at the very place where an accidental patricide occurred. The older brother obtains a medical license and serves his tribe, while the younger one, released from prison, faces tribal disputes as the community crumbles under the weight of past sins.
“Who'll Stop the Rain," by Su I-Hsuan, is set against the historical backdrop of Taiwan’s 1990 student strikes, exploring youth aspirations for their own identity and independence after the lifting of martial law in Taiwan. After its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sitges—International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, “Dead Talents Society” got its way to HIFF. This horror comedy by John Hsu, with the theme of urban legends, explores the story of ghosts who strive to develop their acting careers in the underworld and aspire to become superstars in the spiritual world.
Selected for the short film category is “Tayal Forest Club,” which follows an Atayal boy who encounters an ancestral spirit after getting lost, and becomes inspired to change; “Fortune Cookie" exposes the issue of overwork both mentally and physically in modern days, while "Mamu" shows where home is for immigrants in a story of an aboriginal father and daughter spanning Taiwan and the UK; and “Where the Mountain Women Sing?”is an international co-production thriller highlighting the context of folklore. In addition, there is a special screening for "Old Fox," Taiwan’s submission in the competition for Best International Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
“The Hawaii International Film Festival attaches great importance to cultural exchanges between Asia, the Pacific Islands, and North America and is an important international film event. This year, a number of Taiwanese works were selected, showing Taiwan's diverse creative styles and abundant creative energy,” stated the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO-LA).
For more information, please visit https://hiff.org/2024-fall-grid/