Join us for a conversation on "Making your profession an inspiration for your stories" with Israella Samonte. Israella is the interim Executive Director, for the Hawaii Filmmakers Collective, a non-profit organization for independent filmmakers. As a filmmaker who completed her training in New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and an Occupational Therapist by profession, Israella has been passionate about merging both her artistic skill and hands-on experience in helping people with disabilities. She does this creatively by bringing social awareness and understanding on the lives of people with physical and psychological disabilities through her films. One of her films, "Anino" a short film about Autism, got selected for the NYFV Festival, shown at the Laemmle Theater in Beverly Hills, and was released as an educational material used for parent workshops to further understand Autism, sponsored by the Westside and Los Angeles Regional Center. Israella's recent finished project in Hawaii include, "SameT'ing", starring Hawaii's very own Dennis Chun, is currently being entered into film festivals and has already won two Awards of Recognition. "SameTing" is a short film inspired by a true story of an elderly man who suffered a double amputation on his legs. Israella hopes that this short film will catalyze a dialogue and understanding on the issues facing the aging population. When: February 21, 2018 From 6:00 - 7:00 pm Where: HWF board meeting room @ the Impact Hub 1050 Queen Road, Honolulu, HI 96814 Free and Open to the Public