New York, NY – March 5, 2020: The 19th annual Tribeca Film Festival today announced its 2020 lineup of diverse and engaging films in competition, including 8 animated shorts curated by Whoopi Goldberg. Among them is the world premiere of Kapaemahu, a story about the hidden history of four mysterious boulders on Waikiki Beach, and the legendary spirits within them.

Based on original research and the discovery of a century’s old handwritten manuscript, Kapaemahu reveals the true nature of four legendary figures said to have brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii long ago. The healers were mahu – individuals of dual male and female spirit highly revered in traditional Polynesian culture – but this aspect of the story has been suppressed due to the religious, political, and cultural influences that shaped modern Hawai’i throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

“As Kanaka, we need to be active participants in telling our own stories, in our own way,” said Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, director and narrator of the film. “That’s why I wanted to make a film about Kapaemahu, as seen through the eyes of a curious child, and to narrate it in Hawaiian language.”

The film, a co-production with Pacific Islanders in Communications, was animated by acclaimed Oscar-nominated artist Daniel Sousa and co-directed and produced by Oahu-based filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.

“Millions of tourists and locals walk by these stones on Waikiki Beach with no idea what they represent,” said Hamer. “We’re excited about the ways in which this film will remind people of the important contributions made by individuals across the gender spectrum, and how this monument honors them.”

The animated short will also be the centerpiece of an exhibit at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum, exploring these and other themes including the healing arts, Pacific voyaging, and language loss and recovery. The exhibit is scheduled for Spring 2022.

Contact:

Joe Wilson, Qwaves Media

e: [email protected] t: 808-629-9864

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Film synopsis:

On Honolulu’s famed Waikiki Beach stand four mysterious boulders that represent a Hawaiian tradition of healing and gender diversity that is all but unknown to the millions of locals and tourists passing by. According to legend, the stones are a tribute to four mahu – people of dual male and female spirit – who long ago brought the healing arts from Tahiti to Hawai’i. Beloved by the people for their gentle ways and miraculous cures, they transferred their powers to the stones, then disappeared. Although the stones still stand on a popular section of the beach, the true story behind them has been hidden – until now. Based on new research and narrated in the only continuously spoken Hawaiian dialect, Kapaemahu brings this powerful legend back to life in vivid animation, seen through the eyes of a curious child.

About the Filmmakers:

Hinaleimoana Wong, best known as Kumu Hina, is a Native Hawaiian teacher, cultural practitioner, composer and filmmaker who uses digital media to protect and perpetuate indigenous languages and traditions. She began her film work as a protagonist and educational advisor for the award winning documentaries Kumu Hina and A Place in the Middle, and received a National Education Association Human Rights Award, Native Hawaiian Educator of the year and White House Champion of Change for the groundbreaking impact campaigns associated with those films. Continuing her journey to the other side of the lens, Hina produced the PBS/ARTE feature documentary Leitis in Waiting and award-winning short Lady Eva about her transgender sisters in the Kingdom of Tonga. Hina is also a transgender health advocate, burial council chair, and composer of Ku Haaheo E Kuu Hawaii, the internationally-known anthem for the protection of Mauna Kea.

Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson are Emmy and GLAAD Award-winning filmmakers dedicated to telling stories that emanate from the voices of those on the outside. Their work has screened and won awards at festivals around the world including Berlin and Toronto, been viewed by millions of viewers on PBS and international broadcasts, and received widespread attention for their role in promoting social change. Dean and Joe’s films and impact campaigns have been supported by Sundance, Ford, ITVS and Pacific Islanders in Communications. This is their fifth film on Pacific Islander voices and issues in collaboration with Wong-Kalu.

Daniel Sousa is an Academy Award-nominated animation director who uses the themes embedded in myths and legends to examine archetypes of human nature. Born on Cape Verde, he approaches filmmaking from a painter’s perspective, focusing on the fragility of fleeting moments, memories and perceptions. His short films include Feral, which was supported by a Creative Capital Foundation grant and premiered at Sundance, and Fable, which won awards at festivals around the world. He recently completed animating several native legends for the four-part PBS special Native America, which weaves history and science with living indigenous traditions. Sousa has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, Harvard University, The Museum School, The Art Institute of Boston and the Animation Workshop in Denmark.

About Pacific Islanders in Communications:

Established in 1991 in Honolulu Hawai‘i, Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) is the only national public media organization that supports media content specifically about Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. PIC works to promote a deeper understanding of Pacific Islander history, culture and contemporary issues that define our communities. PIC addresses the need for media content that reflects America’s growing ethnic and cultural diversity by funding independently produced media, and by providing hundreds of hours of innovative content about Pacific Islanders to National PBS including its flagship series Pacific Heartbeat. For more information about Pacific Islanders in Communications and Pacific Heartbeat, visit www.piccom.org

About the Tribeca Film Festival:

The Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, brings visionaries and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment. The Festival champions emerging and established voices; discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators; curates innovative experiences; and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, and live performances.The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Now in its 19th year, the Festival has evolved into a destination for creativity that reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities. The 19th annual edition will take place April 15 – 26, 2020. www.tribecafilm.com/festival #Tribeca2020