Tier 2
Honolulu, United States
Last verified 12 June 2026
Set in one of the most breathtaking locations of any festival, HIFF celebrates Asian-Pacific and international film with a famously warm welcome. Its acceptance ratio is more favourable than the setting might suggest, and prizes total more than $20,000.
Oscar Animated Short · Animated Short Film
Must win the jury award for Best Animated Short at Hawaii International Film Festival.
Oscar Documentary Short · Documentary Short Subject
Must win the jury award for Best Documentary Short at Hawaii International Film Festival.
Oscar Live Action Short · Live Action Short Film
Must win the jury award for Best Short Film (narrative) at Hawaii International Film Festival.
The main submission deadline for Hawaii International Film Festival is around 5 June 2026. Confirmed for the current edition.
Submitting to Hawaii International Film Festival costs from USD 25 as a rough guide. Entry fees usually rise closer to the deadline and vary by category.
No premiere requirement. Hawaii International Film Festival accepts films that have screened elsewhere.
Yes. Hawaii International Film Festival can qualify a film for an Academy Award (Oscar), subject to the specific category and condition for each award. The exact route differs per award body.
Hawaii International Film Festival takes place in Honolulu, United States.
Hawaii International Film Festival is a legitimate, established film festival: it is listed in Circkit's curated, human-vetted festival database, which deliberately excludes known scam festivals and certificate mills; it ranks among the upper tiers of the festival circuit. As with any festival, confirm the current deadline and fee on the official site before you pay. You can also run Hawaii International Film Festival through Circkit's free Scam Radar for an independent safety check.
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Want an independent check? Run Hawaii International Film Festival through the free Scam Radar.