Rainbow Film Festival Last updated August 24, 2025 LGBTQ film festival in Hawaii, USA
Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Location Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, U.S. Screening Venue HoMA Doris Duke Theatre Established 1989 Language International Festival Director Brent Anbe Programming Director Andrea Krauss Website hrff.org
The Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival (HRFF ) is an LGBT film festival held annually in Honolulu which began in 1989 as the Adam Baran Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Film Festival . [ 1] [ 2]
History Businessman Jack Law founded the non-profit Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation (HGLCF) in 1997 as an umbrella organization for the Adam Baran Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, now known as the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival (HRFF). [ 3] [ 4]
Prior to establishment of the non-profit, the film festival (started in 1989), originally donated proceeds of the festival to the Life Foundation, the state's main AIDS/HIV organization. Today, the HGLCF is a self-supporting non-profit 501(c)3.
Films programmed at the HRFF have gone on to win Peabody and Emmy Awards , such as the documentary, Daddy & Papa . HRFF has worked with PBS Hawaiʻi to program LGBT content documentaries. In 2008, a pilot Neighbor Island Outreach in Hilo on the Big Island began.
Events The festival currently happens in the fall (around early August to late September). In-person film screenings are scheduled throughout a three-day weekend, starting on a Friday (which includes an opening reception in the evening) and ending that Sunday (with a red carpet award ceremony shortly after the final screening). Screenings take place at Doris Duke Theatre inside the Honolulu Museum of Art . [ 5] A selection of short films become available to screen online during the week that follows. [ 6]
Awards The types of awards at HRFF have varied throughout the years. Traditional awards include Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Hawaiʻi Short, Best Animation, Audience Award, Visionary Award, and Rising Star Award. The awards unique to this event are the Adam Baran Award (an LGBTQIA+ filmmaker that has excelled in their career in the film industry), the Jack Law Award (a person who best embodies the HGLCF’s mission), the Rainbow Award (a film that intermixes LGBTQIA+ culture and introduces a new audience to HRFF), and the Phred Love Award (awarded exclusively to recognize Hawaiʻi filmmakers). [ 7]
HRFF35 Sept 20-22, 2024 [ 8]
Best Narrative Feature - Duino (2024) directed by Juan Pablo Di Pace and Andrés Pepe Estrada Best Documentary Feature - Lady Like (2024) directed by Luke Willis Best Narrative Short - EKG (2024) directed by Q. Allan Brocka Best Documentary Short - Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia (2024) directed by Tom Mason and Sarah Klein Best Hawaiʻi Short - I Am (2024) directed by Tony Dia Best Made in Hawaiʻi Short - My Parents (2024) directed by Keliʻi Grace and Lance D. Collins Best Made in Hawaiʻi Student Short - One Night (2024) directed by Jason Lanuevo Audience Award Best Short - I Am directed by Tony Dia Adam Baran Award - Ayumi Kurokawa; Director of Until the Day I Call Her My Son (2024) HRFF34 September 8-10, 2023 [ 9]
Grand Jury - My Partner (2022) directed by Keli'i Grace Best Narrative Short - To Ken with Love (2022) directed by Mike Talplacido Best Overall Short - Queerfully Departed (2023) directed by Trent Nakamura Best Hawaiian Short - A Tale of Two Sisters (2022) directed by Angelique Kalani Axelrode Audience Award Best Short - The Other John (2023) directed by Ryan Spahn Adam Baran Award - Andy Valentine; Director of The Mattachine Family (2024) Visionary Award - Jack Law Best Director - Jason Karman; Director of Golden Delicious HRFF33 October 21-23, 2022 [ 10]
The festival was held in-person for the first time since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic .
Best Narrative Feature - Wildhood (2021) directed by Bretten Hannam Best Documentary Feature - Jimmy in Saigon (2022) directed by Peter McDowell Best Narrative Short - Firsts (2022) directed by Jesse Ung Best Documentary Short - Gender Outlaw, a Body Surfing Story (2022) directed by Peter Williams Best Made In Hawaiʻi Short - Cosmic Laundry (2022) directed by Alexandra Livingston Audience Award Best Short - Cock nʻ Bull 3 (2022) directed by Nathan Adloff Special Jury Mention - Fishbowl (2021) directed by Jacqueline Chan Adam Baran Award - P.J. Palmer; Director of North Star (2022) Rising Star Award - Vaughan Murrae; Star of Before I Change My Mind (2022) HRFF32 July 30-Aug 15, 2021 [ 11]
In-person events were canceled for the second year in a row due to a spike in Hawai'i COVID-19 cases leading up to the festival.
Best Documentary Feature - A Sexplanation (2021) directed by Alexander Liu Best Short Film - Retribution (2020) directed by Mel Orpen Best Narrative Short – Pool Boy (2021) directed by Luke Willis Best Documentary Short - Veni Etiam (2021) directed by Alex Hai and Mahtab Mansour Best Local Film - Other People (2019) directed by Bryson Kainoa Chun Best Animation - Kapaemahu Audience Award Best Short - Hello Mother (2020) directed by Natalie Shirinian Special Jury Mention - I Know Her (2019) directed by Fawzia Mirza Adam Baran Award - Adam Bernard Baran; Director of Trade Center (2021) HRFF31 July 31-Aug 12, 2020 [ 12]
All in-person screenings and events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. For the first time since its conception, the festival moved to virtual screenings and awards.
Best Narrative Short - My Friend Michael Jones (2018) directed by Ian Leaupepe and Samson Rambo Best Experimental Short - Safe Among Stars (2019) directed by Jess X. Snow Best Local Documentary Short - Parental Guidance Suggested (2020) directed by Dane Neves Best Local Narrative Short - The Longing Fade (2020) directed by Kaveh Kardan Audience Award Best Short - A Walk Home (2020) directed by Tsuyoshi Shoji Programmer Award Best Narrative Short - Melt (2018) directed by Moxie Peng Special Jury Mention - In Orbit (2019) directed Soham Chakraborty, Hanxu Chen, Meton Joffily, Justin Polley and Julia Trouvé Adam Baran Award - Kimi Howl Lee; Director of Kama’āina (2020) Rising Star Award - Malia Kamalani Soon; Star of Kama’āina (2020) HRFF30 Aug 8-18, 2019 [ 13]
Best Short Film - Zero One (2019) directed by Nick Neon Adam Baran Award - Gia Gunn ; Star of Follow Me (2018) Jack Law Award - Hannah Pearl Utt ; Director of Before You Know It (2019) Phred Love Award - Sandy Livingston; Director of Dungeons & Drag Queens: The Quest for the Golden Wig of Enlightenment (2019) Phred Love Award - Dane Neves; Director of Outside the Lines: The Art of Cheyne Gallarde (2018) Rising Star Award - D.J. 'Shangela ' Pierce; Star of Shangela is Shook (2020) HRFF25 June 10-15, 2014 [ 14]
Best Narrative Feature - Tom at the Farm (2013) directed by Xavier Dolan Best Documentary Feature - The Case Against 8 (2014) directed by Ben Cotner and Ryan White Best Short Film - Grind (2014) directed by Zachary Halley Rainbow Award - Boy Meets Girl Eric Schaeffer Rainbow Award - Out in the Line-Up (2014) directed by Ian W. Thomson Adam Baran Award - Alec Mapa ; Director of Baby Daddy (2014) Jack Law Award - Daniel Ribeiro ; Director of The Way He Looks (2014) Phred Love Award - Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson; Directors of Kumu Hina (2014) Rising Star Award - Kim Ho, Star of The Language of Love (2013) Rising Star Award - Michelle Hendley; Star of Boy Meets Girl HRFF24 June 4-9, 2013 [ 15]
Best Narrative Feature - Any Day Now Travis Fine Best Documentary Feature - I Am Divine (2013) directed by Jeffrey Schwarz Best Short Film - Holden (2012) directed by Juan Arcones and Roque Madrid Rainbow Award - Geography Club Adam Baran Award - Xavier Dolan; Director of Laurence Anyways (2012) Jack Law Award - David W. Ross; Writer of I Do (2012) Phred Love Award - Branden Blinn; Director of Toeing the Line (2013) and A la Carte (2013) HRFF23 May 31-June 3, 2012 [ 7]
Best Narrative Feature - Men to Kiss (2012) directed by Robert Hasfogel Best Documentary Feature - No Look Pass (2011) directed by Melissa Johnson Best Short Film - The Man That Got Away (2012) directed by Trevor Anderson Rainbow Award - Birds of a Feather (2011) directed by Anthony Meindl Adam Baran Award - Patrik-Ian Polk ; Director of The Skinny Jack Law Award - Gina Caruso Phred Love Award - Keo Woolford ; Director of Lunchtime (2010) HRFF22 May 12-15, 2011 [ 16]
Best Narrative Feature - Romeos Best Narrative Feature - Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same (2011) directed by Madeleine Olnek Best Documentary Feature - The Advocate for Fagdom (2011) directed by Angelique Bosio Best Short Film - I Was a Teenage Werebear (2011) directed by Tim Sullivan Rainbow Award - Three Veils (2011) directed by Rolla Selbak Adam Baran Award - Dan Jinks Jack Law Award - J.C. Calciano; Director of eCupid (2011) Phred Love Award - Beasty Training! v.8 HRFF21 May 27-30, 2010 [ 17]
HRFF20 May 21-24, 2009 [ 18]
Best Narrative Feature - Clapham Junction Adrian Shergold Best Documentary Feature - Ferron: Girl on a Road (2009) directed by Gerry Rogers Best Short Film - Weak Species (2009) directed by Dan Faltz Phred Love Award - Kevyn K.M. Fong; Director of Beauty Brawl (2009) HRFF19 May 22-25, 2008 [ 19]
Best Narrative Feature - Tru Loved (2008) directed by Stewart Wade Best Documentary Feature - Pageant (2008) directed by Ron Davis Best Short Film - Thirteen or so Minutes Adam Baran Award - Were the World Mine (2008) directed by Tom Gustafson Best Emerging Filmmaker - Katie Kelly; Director of Just Browsing (2008) Phred Love Award - Brent Anbe; Director of Get Me Bodied (2008) HRFF17 May 25-28, 2006
Best Narrative Feature - Boy Culture (2006) directed by Q. Allan Brocka Best Narrative Documentary - Pursuit of Equality (2005) directed by Geoff Callan and Mike Shaw Best Short Film - Taco Chick and Salsa Girl (2005) directed by Kurt Koehler HRFF15 May 27-30, 2004 [ 20]
Adam Baran Award - Q. Allan Brocka ; Director of Eating Out (2004) Phred Love Award - Brent Anbe; Director of One Night in Bangkok (2004) Best Short - The Visitor (2002) directed by Dan Castle HRFF13 May 30-June 2, 2002 [ 21]
References ↑ Chang, Melissa (August 14, 2016). "Party pics: Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival red carpet gala" . Honolulu . Retrieved August 5, 2021 . ↑ Jones, Jay (August 3, 2017). "What's it like to grow up as a black, gay kid in Texas? Hawaii's Rainbow Festival films explores these questions and more" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 5, 2021 . ↑ Berger, John (June 9, 2015). "Stars open Rainbow Film Festival" . Honolulu Star-Advertiser . Retrieved August 5, 2021 . ↑ Ako, Diane (August 18, 2018). "The 29th Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival closes with red carpet gala" . KITV . Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021 . ↑ "HRFF35 | Features" . Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "HRFF35 | Shorts: Small Packages – Big Stories" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . 1 2 Anbe, Brent (June 1, 2012). "23rd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival AWARDS Announced!!!" . Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2024 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival a truly memorable experience" . Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "Congratulations to the HRFF34 Award Winners!" . Archived from the original on 2024-04-17. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "HRFF33 Award Winners" . Archived from the original on 2022-12-02. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "HRFF32 AWARD WINNERS" . Archived from the original on 2021-11-28. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "2020 Homepage HGLCF" . Archived from the original on 2020-11-02. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "MAHALO TO EVERYONE WHO MADE OUR "BIG 3-0" THE BEST EVER HONOLULU RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL!" . Archived from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ Anbe, Brent (June 13, 2014). "#HRFF25 FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED! – CONGRATULATIONS!!!" . Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ Joanne (June 7, 2013). "24TH ANNUAL HONOLULU RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED!!!" . Archived from the original on 2013-09-18. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "Reel Winners at Rainbow" . Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "2010 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Winners" . Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "2009 HRFF Winners" . Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "2008 HRFF Winners" . Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "Aloha and Mahalo!" . Archived from the original on 2004-11-30. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . ↑ "13TH ANNUAL ADAM BARAN GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2002. Retrieved November 16, 2024 . This page is based on this
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