After a debut that packed theaters and put historic Wailuku Town on the cinematic map, the Wailuku Film Festival is gearing up for round two — and it’s bringing a bigger slate of stories with it. The 2027 edition, slated for mid-June, introduces two fresh categories while doubling down on the Pacific and Indigenous voices that defined its first year.
Early Bird submissions opened October 8, 2026, and the festival is inviting filmmakers from Hawaiʻi, across the Pacific, Indigenous communities, and beyond to take part in what organizers describe as a meeting point for local narratives and global perspectives. The submission window runs through FilmFreeway, with discounted rates available until January 1, 2027, before regular submissions kick in.
The festival’s Year Two theme, “Where Stories Gather,” signals an ambition to build something lasting in Maui — a world-class event anchored in the island’s cultural heritage, its deep surfing roots, and an appetite for bold, original storytelling from anywhere on the globe.
Backed by the Maui Film Office and the County of Maui, the inaugural five-day festival in 2026 drew more than 5,300 attendees to Wailuku Town and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. That first outing screened over 100 films — including more than 55 Hawaiʻi-produced works and over 30 student films — representing 15 countries and Indigenous Nations. The historic ʻĪao Theater saw multiple sellouts, and the festival racked up more than 12.5 million media impressions, earning strong praise from both filmmakers and festivalgoers.
But the impact went beyond attendance figures. The festival activated Wailuku Town, gave students direct access to industry professionals through workshops and panels, boosted local businesses, and created a space where filmmakers and audiences could trade ideas, discover fresh voices, and forge connections meant to shape the next generation of cinema.
Festival Director Brian Kohne — who also serves as Maui’s Film Commissioner and teaches at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College — sees last year’s success as just the opening chapter.
“Our first year exceeded all expectations. Both residents and visitors showed up, which positively impacted small businesses in town.” — Festival Director Brian Kohne
“For year two, we endeavor to expand the program while attracting greater levels of participation,” Kohne said. “We formed many important partnerships in 2026, and will collaborate with even more sponsors, supporters, and filmmakers in 2027 to grow forward a vision of Wailuku as a premier gathering place every summer, and eventually throughout the year.”
Kohne also stressed the festival’s role in nurturing Hawaiʻi’s creative economy. “The Student category extends Maui County’s commitment to island creatives from education through to industry. Along with the Creative Media program at the college, the Wailuku Film Festival represents a vital piece of infrastructure in the build of an Independent Film Industry rooted in Hawaiʻi.”
Six categories, a world of stories
For 2027, WFF keeps its four foundational categories — Hawaiʻi, Indigenous Voices, Watersports, and Student Films — and adds two new ones: Animation and Ocean Conservation.
Watersports remains a signature draw, fitting for a festival in the birthplace of modern surfing. The category welcomes surf films, ocean adventures, athlete profiles, and stories about the communities and traditions shaped by the sea. From legendary breaks to the next wave of riders, WFF wants to unite the global surf filmmaking community right where it all started.
The new Animation category opens the door to imaginative visual storytelling and creative experimentation, while Ocean Conservation invites cinematic takes on marine ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and humanity’s relationship with the sea.
Together, the six categories create a broad platform for narrative and documentary films, Indigenous storytellers, surf filmmakers, emerging artists, and anyone pushing the boundaries of independent cinema.
Building a creative destination in the Pacific
Set against the West Maui Mountains and the streets of historic Wailuku Town, the festival is designed to extend beyond the theater and into the community itself. Screenings, filmmaker conversations, workshops, industry panels, and cultural gatherings all feed into an experience that organizers hope will become a must-attend stop on the independent film circuit.
The festival is grounded in Hawaiian values — aloha (love and compassion), kuleana (responsibility), and mālama (care for people and place) — and celebrates cinema’s power to preserve cultural knowledge, foster understanding, and connect people across generations, cultures, and oceans.
Key dates for filmmakers
Early Bird submissions are now open through FilmFreeway, with discounted fees available until January 1, 2027. Regular submissions run from that date through March 1, with a late submission window from March 1 to April 1. The final general deadline is April 1, 2027, while student filmmakers get an extended window through May 1. Juried and audience awards will honor standout work in narrative, documentary, feature-length, and short-form categories.
The Second Annual Wailuku Film Festival runs mid-June 2027 in historic Wailuku Town, Maui, Hawaiʻi.
Why it matters: With two new categories and an extended submission timeline for students, the festival is positioning itself as more than a regional event — it’s building a permanent creative infrastructure for the Pacific. For filmmakers and audiences alike, that means a growing annual gathering where Indigenous, surf, and ocean-focused stories get a dedicated global stage.
Submit your film: https://filmfreeway.com/WailukuFilmFestival
Festival website: https://www.wailukufilm.com/
ABOUT THE WAILUKU FILM FESTIVAL
An initiative of the Maui Film Office supported by the County of Maui, WFF celebrates independent cinema, elevates Hawaiʻi and Indigenous voices, cultivates emerging filmmakers, and connects local and international creative communities through screenings, educational programs, industry engagement, and cultural exchange.
MEDIA CONTACT
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Amber H. Bobin
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