From the mothers of Hawai‘i independent filmmaking to cutting edge artists at the top of their game, REEL WĀHINE OF HAWAI‘I is a series of portraits of Hawai‘i’s top women filmmakers. The subjects—Connie M. Florez (Indie film producer), Ciara Leinaʻala Lacy (Made in Hawaiʻi Grand Jury winner for OUT OF STATE), Jeannette Paulson-Hereniko (Producer, THE LAND HAS EYES, and founding director of HIFF), Victoria Keith (Camerawoman and news producer, THE SAND ISLAND STORY), Anne Misawa (Cinematographer, UH Mānoa ACM Professor) Heather Haunani Giugni (Producer, FAMILY INGREDIENTS, Founder of ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai‘i)—represent pioneering filmmakers as they recount their role, philosophy, challenges and triumphs in building the Hawai‘i film industry and telling unique local stories through a camera lens.

This short film series is also is an intergenerational project: a collaboration between young women graduates of Hawai'i Women in Filmmaking's programs and a veteran team of filmmakers, eager to share their experience and expertise. The films will preserve the untold stories of Hawai'i women filmmakers in their own words and in all their diversity to inspire the storytellers and leaders of tomorrow.It features active filmmakers, their personal challenges working in a male dominated industry and focuses on the changing world of media and the role women play in expanding Hawaiʻi’s industry in innovative ways.