HRFF is one of the longest-running and most respected queer film festivals in the country, celebrating its 34th anniversary in 2023. It is especially well known as a bridge between Hawai'i and the Pacific, Asia, and the USA. HRFF is an IMDB-qualified festival and a member of the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance.

The festival uses the power of film to raise awareness, engage, energize, and instill a sense of pride and respect in Hawaiʻiʻs thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, mahu and aikane community. The festival is presented annually by the Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Cultural Foundation, a self-supporting non-profit 501(c)3, in honor of Hawaii LGBT pioneer Adam Baran.

This year we will present a full program of films in person at the beautiful Doris Duke Theater, which is located in the Honolulu Museum of Art, together with a selection of films available online for our popular worldwide virtual screenings.

We're looking forward to welcoming you to the warm sands of Hawai'i. Aloha!

Awards & Prizes

Best Feature
Best Documentary
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Adam Baran (Humanitarian Award)
Phred Love Award (Local Filmmaker Award)
Rising Star Award

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY
HRFF accepts films of any length and genre about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, mahu, queer, intersex and allied people and their communities. A separate FilmFreeway Entry Form is required for each film being submitted.

FILM CATEGORIES
Narrative Feature films are 40 minutes and over. Documentary Feature films are 40 minutes and over. Shorts are films under 40 minutes. Episodic inclusdes Web series, webisodes, and ongoing storylines where multiple episodes will be shown.

PREVIEW FORMAT 
Preview submissions must be submitted via secure online screener (e.g. vimeo.com with password), or through a secure online link via FilmFreeway.

ROUGH CUTS & WORKS-IN-PROGRESS 
Please submit a rough cut or work-in-progress only if it has special relevance to our festival; e.g., you are a local filmmaker.

NOTIFICATION 
FilmFreeway submissions will be marked "In Consideration" once payment, entry forms, and an online link of the film have been received. Entrants will be notified of festival selections by August 2023.

FEE WAIVER
A fee waiver is available for filmmakers based in Hawai'i and on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us about your situation and to obtain a waiver code.

12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Dylan Glynn

    Was disappointed to learn that short films selected would not be screened at the festival, only online. I felt a bit duped considering entering this festival is not cheap.

    March 2023
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    What's the name of your film please? We aloha all submitters, but need to know what project you were involved with. Mahalo.

  • Ran Yatim

    Thank you HRFF23 for having my film THE COMFORT ZONE!

    October 2022
    Helpful
  • Josef Steiff

    We are so proud to have been a part of this festival this year. The online festival was a treat, and we got to see lots if not all of the other films, such a bonus for it being online. Thank you for including us!

    September 2021
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  • Gisela Chicolino

    A festival of this topic is really a necessary one. Please keep working on generating this exquisite programming for the audiences.

    September 2021
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  • Luke Willis

    HRFF did a fantastic job moving to an online event and still creating a feeling of excitement and networking opportunities. They are great at communication and I cannot wait to be able to screen a future film there in person.

    August 2021
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