Hawai‘i School for Girls Student Film FLOWERS Selected for HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest
March 13th, 2026
Hawai‘i School for Girls at La Pietra is proud to announce that Flowers, a short film created through a collaboration between students in the school’s Filmmaking & Production and Health classes, has been selected for the upcoming HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest.
The film will be featured in the ‘Ōpio Fest Next Gen Showcase taking place on Saturday, April 18, from 1:00 PM to 3:15 PM at Consolidated Theatres Kahala. During this event, student-produced short films from high schools across the state will be screened, all competing for the HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest Best Next Gen Film Award, which will be announced live at the event. Following the screening, student filmmakers will also take part in a Q&A session.
Flowers follows Flora (Anabel Carriker Figueroa '25), a teenage girl navigating depression. Her best friends, Chloe (Caitlin Aus '28) and Thalia (Nayeli Cora '28), refuse to let her disappear, helping her reconnect with herself and the things she loves. The Health students contributed story ideas inspired by course content, which were then developed into a script by the Filmmaking & Production students. 11 students were involved in every aspect of production—including casting, directing, crewing, and camera operation—making it a true team effort.
“I'm so incredibly proud of the work we created together. Making a film is a huge accomplishment and truly takes a supportive village, which the girls of HSG created,” said Ixchel López, Filmmaking & Production teacher and executive producer of the film. “I can't wait for them to see their work on the big screen and inspire themselves and others to continue telling the stories they think the world needs to see. Mahalo to our friends at 'Ōlelo Community Media and World Building Productions for assisting our students during production!”
Hawai‘i School for Girls’ participation in HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest reflects the school’s commitment to fostering creativity, confidence, and hands-on learning experiences that empower young women to lead lives of purpose. For those unable to attend in person, Flowers will also be available for online screening from April 19 to May 3.
For more information on Flowers and HIFF ‘Ōpio Fest, visit HIFF.org.
BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MAKING OF FLOWERS
about Hawai‘i School for Girls at la pietra
Founded in 1964, Hawai‘i School for Girls is an independent school for grades 6–12 with a mission of educating young women to lead a life of purpose. With exceptional faculty, small classes, and a nurturing environment, Hawai‘i School for Girls empowers students to discover their passions, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. With a 7:1 student–teacher ratio and class sizes averaging 8–10, students receive personalized attention that supports both academic growth and personal leadership. For more information, visit lapietra.edu.
