Frequently Asked Questions


What are the dates of the next festival?
January 16 - 18, 2009.

Are there awards?
Yes, the Golden Palm awards will be presented to the best film in each of the main competitive categories along with Special Jury Prizes, an award for the Best First-Time Filmmaker, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in the Screenplay Competition.

What are the categories of films accepted?                                 
Honolulu International Film Festival accepts films of all categories including feature, documentary, short, animated, experimental, student, Hawaii, action sports, television pilots, screenplays, musicals, and music videos of any genre, length or form.

What is the deadline?                                                                    
Early Bird Deadline - May 31
Regular Deadline - September 15                                           
Late Deadline - November 30
Extended Deadline - December 15

What are the fees?                                                                           
Early Bird Deadline - Short: $30 / Feature: $35                                      
Regular Deadline - Short: $35 / Feature: $40                                           
Late Deadline - Short: $40 / Feature: $45
Extended Deadline - Short: $40 / Feature: $45

Is there a student fee?                                                                        
Yes, students may subtract $5 from their entry fee but must include a photocopy of their student ID.

How long is a short film?                                                                 
Films under 50 minutes are considered short films.

How long is a feature film?                                                              
Films over 50 minutes are considered feature films.

Should I send a press kit?                                                                     
No.

Where do I send my film?                                             
Honolulu International Film Festival
Festival Submissions
2945 El Camino Road
Las Vegas, NV 89146

Does my film need to be a world premiere?
A film does not have to be a premiere to play in the festival.

What qualifies as a Hawaii film?
A Hawaii Film is a film that meets at least one of the follwoing categories: 1.) Filmed partially in the State of Hawaii 2.) About the history or culture of Hawaii 3.) Key cast or crew (director, producer, writer, lead actor) from Hawaii.

Can I still submit if my film has distribution or has aired on television?
Yes.

Will my tape or DVD be returned?                                                     
No. Submissions will not be returned.

What are the sections of the festival where my film might be accepted?
Feature Film Competition                                  
Foreign Film Competition                                     
Documentary Competition
Hawaii Film Competition                                                       
Short Film Competition
Action Sports Competetion                         
Student Film Competition                                                   
Music Video Competition                                                                
Animation Competition
Experimental Film Competition
Television Pilot Competition                    
Screenplay Competition

Do I have to pick the category I want to submit to?                           
No, we will select which category each film plays in.                                     

What are the acceptable screening/exhibition formats for your festival?
For the submission process, we prefer DVDs.  During the festival, we can screen films on most digital formats.

Is there an age requirement for the film festival?                     
Filmmakers of any age can submit a film.

Can I get confirmation that you received my submission?               
Yes, please send a self-addressed stamped postcard.

What information do I need to provide for submission as a student filmmaker?
Please include a photocopy of your school ID.

Do you accept both DVD+R and DVD-R discs?                               
Yes, but please check the discs on your home player before sending.

If my film is not chosen, may I speak with a programmer for notes or feedback?
Unfortunately due to time constraints and the large number of submissions, we are unable to give individual feedback.

When will I be informed of which films made it in?                        
Our final decisions will be announced about one month prior to the festival.

If I still have a question that isn't covered here who do I contact?
Email: info@honolulufilmfestival.com