Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

Photos from the 2012 HRFF Fundraiser at Rumfire

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:26:09 +0000

Special mahalo to Sheraton Waikiki, Rum Fire Waikiki, Kevin Kaneshiro, and Trade Secrets for their amazing amount of support for the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.

Mahalo to all who joined the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival to help raise funds this past Sunday at Rum Fire Waikiki. The event was a huge success! Have a look at all the beautiful photos taken throughout the evening.

Photos on Honolulu Pulse

Click to view photos (Flickr)

2012 HRFF Fundraiser at Rumfire, This Sunday, April 29

lisa — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:15:45 +0000

Come out and enjoy a beautiful sunset with us at the oceanfront Rumfire Waikiki! The monthly event “Phoenix,” at Rumfire, will host the 23rd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Fundraiser this month on Sunday, April 29.

The annual fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. to raise funds for the upcoming 2012 film festival. All donations will be equally matched by Rumfire and a suggested donation will enter you into a drawing to win a 2-night stay at the Sheraton Waikiki and a $100 gift certificate to Rumfire. HRFF will also release special previews of the 2012 HRFF Official Selections and information about visiting filmmakers, actors, and representatives from nearly 10 of the films in this year’s festival. Special advanced ticket sales will be available during “Phoenix” at Rumfire.

In memory of Adam Baran, this year’s Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival will once again be held at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art from May 31 to June 3. The complete film schedule and program are available online. General ticket sales will begin on Monday, April 30.

23rd Annual HRFF Fundraiser
This Sunday, April 29
7 PM to 10 PM
Rumfire, Sheraton Waikiki

Early Film Submission Deadline for 2012 HRFF, this Friday

lisa — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:52:59 +0000

Mahalo for your interest in entering your film into the 2012 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
This Friday, December 16, is the early film entry deadline for the 2012 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. The film submission fees below apply to films that are postmarked by December 16, 2011. This year the festival will be held at the Doris Duke Theatre on May 31 to June 3, 2012.

Time Period	Project Length	Submission Fee
Early: postmarked by DECEMBER 16, 2011	Projects under 30min	$25.00 US
Early: postmarked by DECEMBER 16, 2011	Projects over 30min	$35.00 US

Access the application process by clicking on link below:

Send your screener DVD(s) to:
Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival-HGLCF
Attn: Programming Committee
1670 Makaloa Street #204, PMB #370
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

Calling All Artists!

lisa — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:54:31 +0000

HGLCF is currently in search of a key visual for the 23rd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival!

23rd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Key Visual
Artist Guidelines & Rules

The key visual for the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival should follow the following guidelines and rules:
1. Visually convey the LGBTQ focus of the festival.
2. Visually convey the Honolulu venue of the festival.
3. Visually convey the “film or movie medium” of the festival.
4. Reproduce well in color and B+W, in both large and small sizes.
5. Be submitted in or capable of being easily converted to digital (vector) format.
6. Be able to secure copyright permission for HGLCF to have rights to submitted image
to reproduce in all print, film, and video formats for the coming year of the festival, and in
the web archive indefinitely.

Submissions should be delivered, mailed or sent to HGLCF at its mailing or email address
and are due by 9 December 2011.

World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011

lisa — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:18:44 +0000

Presented in honor of World AIDS Day and making an encore performance after screening at the 22nd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival, the award-winning, acclaimed documentary, WE WERE HERE will show at the Doris Duke Theatre this Thursday, December 1.

We Were Here documents the coming of what was called the “Gay Plague” in the early 1980s. It illuminates the profound personal and community issues raised by the AIDS epidemic as well as the broad political and social upheavals it unleashed. This documentary takes a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, the calamitous epidemic. This year, 2011, will mark 30 years since AIDS descended. Like an unrelenting hurricane, the epidemic roiled San Francisco for two decades and only began granting some reprieve with medical advancements in the late 90’s.

An official selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and 2011 Berlin International Film Festival, We Were Here, is a film that extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.

For tickets and more info on this upcoming screening, click here.

WE WERE HERE (trailer) from David Weissman on Vimeo.

WE WERE HERE (trailer) fr

BRB: #Checking-In with eCUPID director J.C.

matt — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:10:49 +0000

Back in May, eCupid screened at HRFF and won the Jack Law Award for its presentation of finding and losing love on-line. We caught up with director J.C. Calciano regarding his film’s IRL status on, where else, the computer.

eCUPID screens at Doris Duke Theatre this Fri., 11/25 and Sat., 11/26

Your film eCupid spends a lot of time tracking characters’ online activities. I want to know what your last Facebook status update was.

About the Honolulu screening! I don’t use Facebook, Twitter or any of those things for personal use. As far as I’m concerned, they’re great tools for promotion and publicity. Other than selling Is It Just Me?, eCupid or Steam Room Stories, I don’t use social media for anything other than promoting my projects. I’m strictly a “check my email only” guy when it comes to my personal life.

Since its World Premiere at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival, its screened at various other festivals. What’s the reaction been like? Great! People really love it. They’ve told me that it’s a great follow up film to Is It Just Me? (IIJM?) Some have said, “I love eCupid, but I like IIJM? better because it’s sweeter.” That’s something I knew before making it. IIJM? was written to be a love story and eCupid was written to be a romantic fantasy — inspired by films like Splash and Big — they aren’t necessarily love stories, but more romantic fantasy films. That’s what I designed it to be. My version of a perfect, fun date movie.

Where’d the initial idea for the film come about? Were you in a really bad relationship with your iPhone or something?

Arguing with my boyfriend to put the iPhone down and pay attention to me (I require a lot of attention). His iPad and iPhone had been commandeering the attention I need so I needed to put an end to it. I see young people sitting at restaurants together, texting and not talking. Everywhere you go you see people looking down at screens and more engaged in what’s happening in their hands rather than real life and relationships. That’s what inspired me to write eCupid. It’s a cautionary tale about letting technology distract you from what’s really important in life.

Given all these online dating sites and apps available for gay men today, do you think that’s made dating easier…or just way more complicated?

I think it’s made it both. On one hand you have tons of guys available to you now instantly, whereas 20 years ago, you had only the few guys who happened to be in the bar the same night you were available. Your choices were less and your decisions were made quite simply. Now you can instantly connect with thousands of guys as well as know everything you want about them, including if they are interested in you. Some could say the new way is much better and I could see why, but for me, I like the “meet someone out, go on a date and see how lucky you get” approach.

#cuties

What’s something about Morgan Fairchild nobody else knows? Is she as much of a fairy godmother in real life as she is the film? Actually, yes she is. I don’t know if people know what a rabid GLBT rights supporter Morgan is. She has also done tireless work supporting the AIDS campaign and has been helping gay causes for many years. Having Morgan on set was not only a pleasure for me, but for the actors as well. She’s truly a fun, generous and encouraging actor to everyone on set. She’s the first to be ready and always has a smile on her face as well as eager to share her knowledge with all the younger filmmakers. Working with Morgan was a highlight of my career and I can’t imagine working with someone more wonderful and professional.

Tell us about what you’re working on these days.

Currently I’m writing and producing more Steam Room Stories — a silly, sexy webisode that features incredibly hot men wearing towels in the steam room. They are very fun to do and the audience seems to love them. I’m also writing the next script. It’s kind of the third film in my trilogy of finding love on-line. I’m not going to give any more details about it other than if it comes out the way I’d like it to, it will go full circle on online dating, missed opportunities and finding love on the computer. It’ll also have cameos from your favorite Is It Just Me? and eCupid guys.

Hana Hou Screenings of eCupid Nov 25-26

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:21:39 +0000

eCupid, starring Houston Rhimes, Noah Schuffman & Morgan Fairchild

Did you miss the world premiere of J.C. Calciano’s “eCupid” earlier this year at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival? If so, you’ve got ~~one~~ five more chances to see it, coming soon on November 25 & 26. eCupid won the Jack Law Award at HRFF 2011.

The film is not yet available on DVD, so this is likely your last chance to see it here in Hawaii. Also, check out our previous blog post featuring a Q&A with actor Mike C. Manning (“Myles” in the film).

Click here for more information and to buy tickets online.

eCupid showtimes:

Friday Nov 25 01:00 PM
Friday Nov 25 07:30 PM
Saturday Nov 26 01:00 PM
Saturday Nov 26 04:00 PM
Saturday Nov 26 07:30 PM

Location:

Doris Duke Theatre

Price:

Honolulu Academy of Arts Members: $8.00
General Admission: $10.00

Reel Winners at Rainbow

matt — Thu, 19 May 2011 05:44:58 +0000

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s festival!

Here’s a complete list of the special mentions from the program this past weekend.

Drum roll, please…

22nd Annual Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
Awards & Honorees

BEST FEATURE FILM AWARD

(tie between)
Romeos
Dir. Sabine Bernardi
&
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same
Dir. Madeleine Olnek

RAINBOW AWARD
Three Veils
Dir. Rolla Selbak

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AWARD
The Advocate for Fagdom
Dir. Angelique Bosio

BEST SHORT FILM AWARD
I Was a Teenage Werebear
Dir. Tim Sullivan

JACK LAW AWARD
Dir. JC Calciano

PHRED LOVE AWARD
Beasty Training! v.8

ADAM BARAN AWARD
Dan Jinks

There you have it!

Maybe we can get James Franco to host an awards ceremony next year.

Cruise on Over to Our Gala

matt — Fri, 13 May 2011 23:33:27 +0000

Cruise on over to “CRUISE” – our Gala event at Chai’s Island Bistro in Aloha Tower!

TONIGHT AT 9PM–1AM. BE THERE.

From 9PM – 1AM, this party will be co-hosted by Sean Paul Lockhart and Alec Mapa (click here for video…and today’s weather!) and many of our films’ stars will be there including:

Sheetal Sheth of THREE VEILS
Matthew Ludwinski of GOING DOWN IN LA LA LAND
Mike C Manning of eCUPID and The Real World: DC
Houston Rhines of eCUPID
Noah Schuffman of eCUPID
Galen Drever of eCUPID
Director JC Calciano of eCUPID
Sean Lockhart of I WAS A TEENAGE WEREBEAR
Director Lorene Machado of CHO DEPENDENT
Director Gary Reich of UNCLE DAVID
Director Madeleine Olnek of CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME

…and more!

All proceeds benefit the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation and the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.

Shot through the

matt — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Actor Mike C. Manning is attending the World Premerie of eCUPID tonight, Friday 13 at 6PM

Tonight is the Wold Premiere of eCUPID – a film about relationships, tech, and love directed by JC Calciano.

Real World: DC-er Mike C. Manning has a role in this rom-com 2.0. He took time to chat with us via the net. Go figure.

eCupid is about what happens to a guy when a dating app takes over his phone, which in 2011 basically means, his life. I mean, you’re pretty wired in yourself–connected to your Twitter followers, lending your voice to YouTube with the It Gets Better campaign, answering these questions through cyberspace. How do you manage it all? Do you ever just want to fall off the grid?

I’m to the point now where if I don’t have my cell phone on me, constantly checking emails, Twitter, or messaging friends, I feel naked. Sometimes friends will even make plans with me ONLY if I agree to keep my phone in my pocket the entire time. That being said, sometimes it’s nice to go somewhere in nature where you don’t even get cell reception, and just enjoy the peace.

What are your thoughts about these dating “tools” like Grindr? Craigslist? OkCupid? as they pertain to the gay community?

Being an activist for gay rights, I was very critical in the beginning. I thought, “How can I show people that we are all the same, and that being gay is not ‘morally wrong’ like some groups preach, if we are using social media to hook up like we do?” Since then, I have compared and realized that straight people do the exact same thing. There are those at every level of the “sexually active” spectrum in both the gay and straight communities.

Your character is Myles, a young skater kid who hits on the main character Marshall at a bar. Similar to yourself on the Real World: DC, Myles isn’t your “stereotypical” gay character. He (and you) provide visibility to this obvious reality that we can be guys…who just happen to be gay. That’s a noticeable shift in looking at what it means to be “gay today,” right? Like, post-gay? Or am I over-thinking all of this? Help!

I don’t think there is a shift in what it MEANS to be gay, but I do think there is a shift in the amount of people that REALIZE just how “normal” and diverse the LGBT community really is. Just like the straight community, we have everything from cowboys to drag queens, FBI Agents to runway models – and with people being more open about who they are, more and more questioning adolescents can identify with one “one type of gay” or another, and it makes self-acceptance easier for him/her.

The movie also shows a guy who has become disenchanted in his 7-year relationship, starting to take things for granted. What’s the longest relationship you’ve ever been in? How do you keep things from getting…boring. Or is that just a part of commitment? Your thoughts, Dr. Manning…

Ha ha, Dr. Manning? That’s funny. Obviously, being in a relationship takes work. Most of the time, love ISN’T all you need. It takes work to maintain a relationship, and to actually “make it” you have to enter the relationship with that in mind. Me? Well I’ve been able to play that game for a max of 1.5 years, once with a girl and once with a guy. To keep things from getting boring? Just treat them like your best friend, be honest, and don’t forget to laugh.

You’re also a vocal political activist. Tell us about your involvement with The Trailblazer Project?

The “Trailblazer” campaign is a movement started by my friend James, with the purpose of encouraging Hollywood as a whole to be “out” and proud of sexuality. The idea is that if influential individuals in the public eye are open and honest about their sexuality, the shame is scraped away all that is left are proud public figures that youth in particular can identify with.