The 43rd Hawai‘i International Film Festival will be at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu — a HIFF first — with the screening of “‘Ulu‘ulu Moving Image Archive Presents: Treasures,” 2 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the UH West O‘ahu Academy for Creative Media (ACM) Theater.
“This is ‘Ulu‘ulu’s 11th archival screening at HIFF and we are so happy that this year we have partnered with ACM System to bring HIFF to UH West O‘ahu’s ACM Theater for the first time,” said Janel Quirante, head archivist at ‘Ulu‘ulu, which is on the UH West O‘ahu campus.
‘Ulu‘ulu’s screening is in partnership with the HIFF x ACM Accelerator, a new program with a targeted focus on students attending college in Hawai‘i within the entirety of the ACM System through UH’s 10 campuses.
Each year at HIFF, the ‘Ulu‘ulu Moving Image Archive screens a recently preserved film from its collection and moderates a panel discussion with archivists, filmmakers, and historians.
This year, the film is “Treasures,” a series that aired on KHON from 1986 to 1988 and featured unsung heroes and unique individuals in Hawai‘i. Quirante said she is really excited to screen this program from the KHON archival collection at ‘Ulu‘ulu.
“‘Treasures’ is such a great example of locally produced television programming that documented our community stories, leaders, and personalities,” Quirante said. “I love watching these portraits from nearly 40 years ago, that are still relevant, informative, and even a little bit surprising for modern audiences.”
Hosted by Brickwood Galuteria, “Treasures” profiles Waimea-born Harriet Purdy, a high diver and swimmer, known as the Hawaiian Cannonball at Atlantic City’s Steel Pier in the 1930s; revered Kumu Hula Kau‘i Zuttermeister, who has left a legacy that endures today and is shared by her daughter Kumu Hula Noenoelani Zuttermeister; and avid waterman Tommy Holmes, one of the founders of the Polynesian Voyaging Society credited for riding the largest waves ever in an outrigger canoe. Although these subjects have passed on, their stories live on for future generations to learn from these local “treasures.”
Following the film, a panel discussion moderated by Heather Giugni will include series director Tim Savage, Kumu Hula Noenoelani Zuttermeister, Bishop Museum historian Desoto Brown, and ‘Ulu‘ulu head archivist Janel Quirante.
Click here for free tickets to the screening of “Treasures.”