Women of Wonders Film Fest - Short program #2

SHORTS PROGRAM #2    7:30 PM

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Leanne K. Ferrer by Vera Zambonelli

Leanne K. Ferrer was a visionary leader who was passionate about promoting Pacific Islander stories and public media. She was the Executive Director at Pacific Islanders in Communications and co-created the Pacific Heartbeat television series on PBS while overseeing numerous other productions. Leanne understood the significance of connecting media creators to network and share their knowledge, which led her to establish the PIC Media Makers Summit, the Hawaiian Handbook for Media Protocol, and the Hawaiian Media Makers Database to support a thriving creative community. Leanne's previous experience at Disney Films and PBS Hawai'i, as well as her role as the previous Board President for Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking, founding member, and advisory board member of the Hawaiian Media Makers and the Hawaiʻi Film Foundation at Nuʻumealani, made her an invaluable asset to the film community.

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Sancia Miala Shiba Nash by Meleanna A. Meyer

Sancia Miala Shiba Nash is a filmmaker from Kīhei, Maui. Through time-based media, she works collaboratively to amplify intersectional stories of place. Her practice is guided by oral histories, archives, and acts of translation. Currently she is helping to catalog Nā Maka o ka ʻĀina’s moving image collection, as a project of Puʻuhonua Society. In 2020, Sancia cofounded kekahi wahi, a grassroots film initiative dedicated to documenting transformations across Hawaiʻi.

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Ann Marie Nālani Kirk by Amber McClure

Ann Marie Nālani Kirk is an award-winning filmmaker from Maunalua, Oʻahu. Her recent films include: Kai Piha: Nā Loko Iʻa about traditional Hawaiian fishponds, Kai Piha: Kaʻahele Ma Waikiki about the history of traditional Hawaiian surfing in Waikiki and other films include The Hawaiian Room about the legendary Hawaiian dancers and entertainers who Hawaiian Room in the Lexington Hotel, Homealani about her grandfather Oliver H. Kupau, and Happy Birthday, Tūtū Ruth about kupuna Ruth Kaholoaʻa from Waipiʻo, Hawaiʻi. Ann Marie is also the creator of maunalua.net, a cultural website sharing the moʻolelo of Maunalua, Oʻahu.

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Stephanie Castillo by Marlene Booth

An EMMY-award winning director and independent filmmaker for 30 years, Stephanie Castillo was a former Honolulu print journalist and documentary filmmaker committed to producing, directing, and writing documentary films exploring the lives of people driven by devotion to others. Castillo released her first documentary film, Simple Courage, in 1992, which compellingly drew parallels between the treatment of Hansen’s Disease sufferers and people diagnosed with AIDS. Her other major films include: An Uncommon Kindness: The Father Damien Story; An Untold Triumph: The Story of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment; Remember the Boys; Strange Land: My Motherʻs War Bride Story; Night Bird Song: the Incandescent Life of a Jazz Great.

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Shaneika Aguilar by Shirley Thompson

Born and raised on the island of O‘ahu, cinematographer Shaneika Aguilar has always been fascinated with cameras and the ability to capture and materialize a moment in time. She is best known for her work on independent films as well as branded content. Her work as a filmmaker with NMG Network garnered 2 Emmy Awards and 5 Pele Awards and included brands like Halekulani and Flux Media. She is a 2018 graduate of the University of Mānoa Academy of Creative Media, and is the new lead content producer for Redefined Weddings, a boutique photography and video company. She continues her work as a commercial photographer and freelance cinematographer, focused on capturing local stories that build connection and unity in her community.

Reel Wāhine of Hawaiʻi: Jana Kealohaokeakua Park by Fé María Vásquez

Jana is a multi-talented artist from Hawaiʻi, with experience in acting, writing, producing, and directing. She has produced award-winning short films and worked on feature films, including Molokaʻi Bound.

Made possible thanks to the generous support of University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa SEED IDEAS