The party invitation from Jeannette Paulson Hereniko promised the latest news about the Hawaii International Film Festival and a welcome-back for Beckie Stocchetti.
The Aug. 31 get-together was hosted by Jeannette and her husband, Vilsoni Hereniko, at their home. She is a film producer and distributor for Te Maka Productions and Asia Pacific Films, and Vilsoni is a filmmaker and professor at the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media. Their new short film, “Let the Mountain Speak,” was screened Sept. 1 at Hawaii Theatre as part of the Ohina Short Film Showcase.
Jeannette also founded HIFF in 1981 and was festival director until 1995. In 1996, she was artistic director. It could be called “her baby.”
Beckie returned to Hawaii from Chicago, where she was the director of independent and local film initiatives at the Chicago Film Office. From 2009 to 2011 she was assistant film curator and business manager of the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts (now Honolulu Museum of Art).
Since 2009, Beckie has worked with HIFF in various capacities including development consultant, director of education and projection manager. She has a degree with honors from University of Chicago in Cinema and Media Studies with an emphasis on international cinema, contemporary political documentaries and spectator theory.
“I am so lucky to be working with an incredibly passionate and talented staff, board of directors, and team of volunteers for our upcoming HIFF37, Nov. 2-12 (on Oahu) and Nov. 16-19 (on Big Island and Kauai),” Beckie told the group of 30 people.
Those at the party who were with Jeannette in 1981 when she started the festival or soon after included her daughter Holly Paulson Sereni.
“She was a wonderful volunteer starting with the first year,” Jeannette said. “The second year Myrna Kamae was working as a volunteer with me.
“By 1984, the following people were with me working on the festival or showing a film there: Wimal Dissanayake, Sandra Stephenson (ex-wife of Jack Nicholson), Patricia Gillespie, Heather Giugni and Carol Fox.”
Heather is the founder of the Ulu‘ulu Film Archives. Her video work for over three decades has perpetuated Hawaiian culture. The 10 documentaries Myrna made with her late husband, Eddie Kamae, a legendary musician-singer, were screened at past HIFF editions. It started with “Li‘a: The Legacy of a Hawaiian Man” that won a special jury award in 1988.
Myrna and Heather collaborated recently by seeing all of the Kamaes’ documentaries plus all the outtakes were restored and saved forever as part of the Ulu‘ulu Film Archive at University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus.
Gillespie, whose documentary “They Call Her Lady Fingers: The Story of Betty Loo Taylor” won HIFF’s Audience Award in 2003, was reminiscing at the party with Grace Niska Atkins. Dean Hammer, Joe Wilson and kumu Hina Wong-Kalu were spreading the news about “Lady Eva,” their short film that’s making the festival circuits. State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson recalled serving as HIFF’s media representative years ago.
And what can we expect at the upcoming HIFF37?
“We are excited to use our established international legacy to shine more light on local, Pacific Rim talent and further engage our growing audience with the most innovative creatives of our time,” Beckie said.
It should be noted that Vilsoni’s talents are not limited to filmmaking. In the early hours before the party, he cooked his favorite recipe from his days in Fiji — spicy chicken — for guests. Jeannette made a pasta dish and salad for vegetarians. Kumu Hina gave a welcome chant and pule (prayer) …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets during World War II, writes of people, places and things. Contact him via email at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
