One of the longest-running and most respected queer film festivals in the country, the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival is celebrating its 36th anniversary in 2025.
HRFF is a project of the Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation (HLLF).
BRENT ANBE
Festival Director
Brent Anbe is a locally born and raised Hawaiʻi casting director, film-festival director and an award-winning filmmaker, writer and director. He’s dedicated over a decade to LGBTQI+ community activism as the Festival Director for Hawaiʻi’s only LGBT Film Festival, the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
Most recently, Brent is the Hawaiʻi Casting Associate for the Disney+ Series Doogie Kamealoha, MD Season 1 and 2, and Season 1 – 5 of CBS/NBC’s Magnum P.I. Brent’s previous accomplishments include original U.S. casting for the international Netflix hit series Terrace House: Aloha State and Casting Associate work for CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 and Jurassic World.
Brent has been awarded the Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 Award for his success in business and community work.
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ANDREA KRAUSS
Programming Director
With over two decades of experience in the television, film, and video industry, Andrea has carved a niche in independent filmmaking. A seasoned producer, Andrea’s producing credits include Dalila Ali Rajah’s short film “Secret & Toys” with Quentin Lee directing, “Grown This Way” and “Cock N’ Bull2” both directed by Nathan Adloff. Additionally, Andrea produced the engaging docu-series “Cinema Conversations with Stephen P. Jarchow”, for Here Television.
Renowned for a keen eye for compelling stories and a commitment to innovative storytelling, Andrea continues to champion unique voices in the film industry as the current Programming Director of the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
Recently, Andrea co-founded and programmed the newly launched German film festival “FilmFreude Honolulu” which had its debut March 2024.
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HAʻAHEO ZABLAN
HLLF Chairperson
Haʻaheo paves the way for a new generation of hospitality, prioritizing inclusivity, positive working relationships, and fostering efficient whilst sustainable best-practices for the workplace and island environment. His plethora of industry experience and passion for honoring Hawaiʻi and local communities solidifies Haʻaheo as an anchor for his team members and an empathetic, dynamic leader, mentor, and friend.
ZABRINA ZABLAN-DUVAUCHELLE
HLLF Honolulu Pride Chairperson
Zabrina Zablan-Duvauchelle calls Kapolei home, where she resides with her partner Ipolani and their beloved fur companion, Grey. A proud alumna of Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama (class of 2012), she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Azusa Pacific University (class of 2016).
As the CEO and Founder of The Gay Agenda Collective, LLC, a wedding and event planning company in Hawaiʻi specializing in LGBTQ+ events, Zabrina stands out as one of the few Queer Kanaka professionals in her field. Her mission is to pave the way for greater inclusivity and allyship, ensuring that every couple feels celebrated and represented on their special day.
SAMI L.A. AKUNA
HLLF Māhūi & Kūpuna Chairperson
Internationally, Sami L.A. Akuna has performed in Asia, Europe, North America, and across the Pacific. With over 25 years of professional experience, Sami has performed as principal dancer with Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, is Artistic Director of Giinko Maraschino, Jhalak Dance Company and Piko Dance Arts.
Sami holds a BFA in Theatre and Dance, and MFA in Asian Theatre Directing from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and currently teaches the nation’s very first Queer Dance class.
Cocoa Chandelier, Sami’s alter ego, travels continuously as an advocate and spokesperson for HIV/AIDS, and is a long standing member with the United Territories of Pacific Islanders in Alliance that serves the Native Pacific Island and MVPFAFF+ community across the Hawaiian islands and the Pacific.
RANDY SORIANO
HLLF Executive Director
Randy is a marketing and communications professional with over 15 years of management experience at industry-leading companies throughout Hawai’i. He has a long history of outstanding leadership and service to the MVPFAFF/LGBTQIA+ and non-profit communities, including the Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center, HLLF and Rotary E-Club of Hawai’i. Randy is a graduate of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i’s Fellows Program, a Pacific Business News Business of Pride and 40 Under 40 honoree, and the recipient of Pacific Edge Magazine’s Young Professional of the Year award.
DEAN HAMER
Dean Hamer is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, New York Times book-of-the-year author, and museum and festival curator with a long history of communicating complex and controversial ideas to diverse publics. His groundbreaking work exploring oppression and empowerment among gender and sexual minority communities in the Pacific includes the feature documentaries Kumu Hina and Leitis in Waiting and the Oscar-shortlisted animation Kapaemahu.
As a board member, programmer, and director of many years, Dean brought the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival into the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance and steered it through the challenges of the pandemic. He is currently the co-director of the Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi project.
