Kīpuka: From Ashes to Expression

The Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival gathers around the theme Kīpuka—a native plant that marks the first signs of life returning after the destruction of lava flow. Kīpuka speaks to the quiet, steady resilience of LGBTQIA+ communities, especially in moments when the air feels heavy and the headlines drown out our voices.

Through storytelling and film, we create space to feel, reflect, and reimagine. These screens bring together diverse, often unheard voices to celebrate identity, culture, and connection.

Reserve your spot today

Experience Every Story

Tickets for HRFF36 screenings and events are on sale now!
Prices for individual seats and VIP passes are listed below.

All-Access
Student

$30

All-Access
Kūpuna

$55

All-Access
VIP

$100

Individual Screening

$15

Opening Night Film and Reception

$25

Red Carpet Closing Party

$75

JUNe 27 - 29, 2025

Schedule & Trailers

This year’s lineup offers stories that stay with you.
Discover what’s screening, watch trailers, and plan your festival experience.

Friday, June 27, 2025
Doors Open at 5:00pm

Opening Night Reception

Hosted Food and Live Entertainment at HoMA. Beverages available for purchase. VIP Packet available for Pickup.
FRIDAY, June 27, 2025
Showing 7:30PM
Opening night film

Heightened Scrutiny

Follow Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Friday, June 27, 2025
Short Film Preceding

SEAT 31: Zooey Zephyr

After Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for defending transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her “office.” Director Kimberly Reed’s intimate camera transforms this explosive political moment into a moving portrait of trans and queer joy.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Showing 1:00pm

Paradise of Thorns

When his partner Sek dies, Thongkam loses his property to his late love’s eager family and must fight to reclaim the home they built together.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Showing 4:00pm
Festival Centerpiece

Sisters

Lou and Esther share a bond like sisters—until Lou learns that she has a biological half-sister named Priya. As Lou shifts her focus to building a relationship with Priya, her longtime friendship with Esther begins to strain.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Short Film Preceding

GiGi

From the tormented little mermaid to the fulfilled woman she is today, GiGi tells us about her gender transition with humor and sensitivity.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Short Film Preceding

First Comes Love

Director in Attendance
This coming-of-age romance follows two teenage girls as they navigate grief, identity, and first love. Its creator, Sayla U’ilani Whalen, is working to represent her Kanaka heritage and tell queer stories.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Showing 7:00pm

Queens of the Dead

Director & Actor in Attendance
When a zombie outbreak hits their Brooklyn drag show, drag queens and club kids are forced to set aside their rivalries and use their unique talents to take on the brain-hungry undead.
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Short Film Preceding

The 7th Moon

Director in Attendance
Brought to life by Hawaii filmmaker and HRFF Alum, Tony Dia, this short experimental film reimagines the Filipino myth of Bakunawa and the seven moons as an allegory for abuse, tracing the 7th Moon’s toxic cycle with his partner, Bakunawa.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Showing 11:00am

Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood and the Making of Pink Narcissus

Director in Attendance
Velvet Vision follows James Bidgood, the visionary behind the lush, fantastical imagery of 1960s queer art, who sparked decades of mystery.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Short Film Preceding

EKG

Director in Attendance
Crafted by HRFF alum, Q. Allan Brocka, EKG depicts an Asian American ER doctor, Hao Ling, as he grapples with guilt and fear after coming out, but through his first patient and the vibrant Gaysian party scene, he begins to embrace his true self.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Showing 2:00pm
Closing Night Film

Riley

Director & Lead Actor in Attendance
A disciplined high school athlete’s world unravels when his queer identity collides with the expectations he’s been raised to uphold.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Short Film Preceding

Just Between Us

Lead Actors in Attendance
Crafted by an HRFF alum, this short film depicts an open marriage tested by unexpected twists including a plumber, a pool, a sandwich, and a charming himbo. Sam searches for clarity on love, connection, and whether he and Dustin are truly solid.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Doors Open at 6:30pm

Red Carpet Closing Party

Join us as we close out the 2025 Hawaiʻi Rainbow Film Festival, Kīpuka, with a night of red carpet moments, live performances, complimentary bites, and cocktails—all in celebration of community and storytelling.