Naz, a cynical and charismatic 20-something, has spent his entire life in tranquil O’ahu, Hawaiʻi, skateboarding with his friends and hosting a nightly radio show where he spotlights emerging musicians. When his girlfriend, Sloane, nabs the chance to move to bustling New York, Naz begins preparing for their big move, planning every detail down to his cat’s absurd flight plan. Even when dreaming about what life outside the island might look like, however, Naz wonders whether uprooting his world is the right decision, and if anywhere will ever really feel like home when he’s always been an eternal outsider.

 
Director: Alika Tengan (Native Hawaiian)
Writer: Naz Kawakami, Alika Tengan (Native Hawaiian)
Producers: Chapin Hall, Naz Kawakami, Jesy Odio, Alika Tengan
Language: English
Hawaii | 2022 | 81 mins

PREVIEW SHORT FILM: 

The Machine
Directors: Isaac Bell (Maori)

New Zealand | 2022 | 25 mins | English

In a quiet corner of rural New Zealand, a teenage boy holds the key to the greatest discovery of our time. The world is tough for our young genius who’s largely misunderstood by the people around him. What he doesn’t realise is that by building The Machine, he’s started a chain of events that could, if it works, change the course of history forever.

NOTE: This film is available in the BIRRARANGGA Film Festival 3-pass and 5-pass ticket packages.