PACIFIC SUPERHEROES

‘CHIEF’ a short film starring Chief Sielu Avea just won the Best Dramatic Short Award at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival over the weekend. The award makes the locally-made film eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann today congratulated local writer/director Brett Wagner and producer Dana Satler Hankins on their success with ‘CHIEF’ at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival. “We applaud this achievement,” said Mayor Hannemann, a strong supporter of the project since its inception. “This film is a shining example of the potential of Hawaii’s film industry.

‘CHIEF’ has been recognized by a number of high profile festivals , is the first Hawaii-made film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and is being honored by the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) with a Certificate of Excellence. BAFTA is the UK equivalent to the Academy of Motions Picture Arts and Sciences, who produce the Academy Awards.

Filmed in the jungles, waters, and urban nightscapes of Oahu, ‘CHIEF’ tells the story of a highly ranked chieftain from Samoa who flees his village after the drowning death of his young daughter, and winds up a taxi driver in Honolulu.

Producer Hankins lauded the City for its support, “Our success is because of the many people who have helped us along the way, including great support from the City, the Honolulu Film Office and Mayor Hannemann,” Hankins said. “The film office and the Mayor were there from the beginning. I can’t tell you how important a support structure like that is to a filmmaker.”

‘CHIEF’ will see its Oahu premiere during the Hawaii International Film Festival in October. FMI, go to: http://www.chief-movie.com