Three seniors from Mid-Pacific Institute had their films selected for the Pacific Island Film Festival in New York City, where they also sat in on an audience Q&A and toured a pair of major film and media institutions. The trip put the students' work in front of industry professionals at an event built specifically to spotlight Pacific storytelling.
The festival ran from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, 2026, according to KHON2, which reported that Mid-Pacific Institute had films selected from three seniors in its film program. The students attended the New York City event and took part in a question-and-answer session with audiences that included New York-based industry professionals, per the same report. While in the city, the seniors also toured NYU's Tisch Film School and AMC Global Media, according to the station's account of the trip.
KHON2 reported the festival showcased eight short films representing 10 island nations from across the Pacific. The festival's own website, however, advertises an experience featuring 28 films from across 10 islands, a figure that does not match the eight-film count cited in the KHON2 report. The discrepancy between those two counts has not been resolved in available reporting.
A Platform Built Around Pacific Storytelling
The Pacific Island Film Festival of New York describes itself as an annual festival dedicated to telling a richer, more comprehensive story of the Pacific Islands, according to its own site, piffnyc.org. Founded in 2023, the festival's programming includes screenings and change-maker talks.
Reaching Beyond the Festival Circuit
Piffnyc.org states that the festival is partnering with AMC Global Media to spotlight Pacific Island films from festival alumni on AMC+ and Sundance Now throughout 2026. The site also names “Future of Film: AANHPI Voices.”
The festival describes its mission as telling a richer, more comprehensive story of the Pacific Islands.
Support From a Honolulu Nonprofit
The Mid-Pacific seniors sought industry opportunities and career connections beyond high school through the trip, per KHON2's reporting. Their travel was supported by the Kahi'olani Foundation, described in the same report as a Honolulu-based arts and culture nonprofit. According to KHON2, the foundation supports Native Hawaiian communities through cultural education, advocacy and support for local Native Hawaiian-owned businesses.
Their trip to Tisch and AMC Global Media, paired with direct exposure to industry professionals at a young age, marks a notable step for Mid-Pacific Institute's film program as it looks to place student work in front of national audiences.
