Tony Dia Award at DisOrient Asian American Film Festival

Ethan leads a double life as an awkward college student by day and a glamorous drag queen by night until a school crush causes his two worlds to collide.

Official Trailer

Audience Choice Award

BEST SHORT NARRATIVE

I Am won the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative at the 20th DisOrient Asian American Film Festival!

20th DisOrient Asian American Film Festival Screening of I Am directed by Tony Dia Pictured: Von Ka’anā’anā (co-writer), Spencer Ilagan (lead actor), Tony Dia (directed/co-writer), and Kaleo Pinto (lead actor)
20th DisOrient Asian American Film Festival Q&A with the filmmakers of I Am directed by Tony Dia Pictured: Spencer Ilagan (lead actor), Kaleo Pinto (lead actor), Tony Dia (director/co-writer), and Von Ka’anā’anā (co-writer)
20th DisOrient Asian American Film Festival Pictured: Spencer Ilagan (lead actor), Kaleo Pinto (lead actor), Jo Fujiwara (program director), Pam Quan (festival director), Tony Dia (director/co-writer), and Von Ka’anā’anā (co-writer)

WORLD PREMIERE OF

I AM

Tony Dia and Von Ka’anā’anā win Best Short Film at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. Photo by Johnny Ng.

I Am premiered to a sold-out theatre on September 22nd, 2024 at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival and… WON!

Our short film was awarded Audience Award Best Short Film and Best Hawaiʻi Short!

Swipe through photos from the premiere below:

  • I Am directed by Tony Dia at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
  • Tony Dia speaking at the HRFF Q&A with Von Ka’anā’anā, Spencer Ilagan, and Kaleo Pinto
  • Cast of I Am directed by Tony Dia on the red carpet at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival

Photos by Rising Tide Media and Kelli with an Eye Photography.

I Am (Original Motion Picture Single) by JRoQ and Sierra Lucia

An original motion picture sINGLE

Performed by JRoQ & Sierra Lucia

Written by Jacob Jared Gabriel, Jennifer Matsuko Pualoke Wright, Quinn Ayame Miyashiro, Sierra Lucia Mendiola

Produced by Jacob Gabriel

Streaming on all your favorite platforms!

OUR SOUNDTRACK

Our film has three songs from talented artists in Hawaiʻi’s music scene:

"I Am (Original Motion Picture Single)" by Emmy-nominated Jenn "JRoQ" Wright and Sierra Lucia

"face2face" by Izik and Lina Robins

"As You Should" by TheBrewz, BIG FIGHT, and Melanie

Take a listen!

T-SHIRT MERCH

OUR T-SHIRT MERCH IS LIVE!

WE HAVE A LIMITED STOCK

BTS: @keilanimphotos Wardrobe/Production Design: Von Ka’anā’anā @_ruledbyvenus We wanted Ethan and Kekoa’s look to reflect their cultural understanding. We used alternative lighting sources to help tell an emotionally complex st
“I Am” is Inspired by the very real people that make up Hawai’i’s LGBTQIA+ community. Our Queer ancestors come from a lineage of Māhū that have the ability to heal others through Mo’olelo or story telling. We believe Qu

We are looking to raise money for film festivals so that we can showcase the vibrant queer community in Hawaiʻi worldwide. We believe that this film has the potential to not only entertain but to also educate those outside of this wonderful community. Funds would go to the cost of festival submission fees as well as sending our actors to represent Hawaiʻi at some of the big festivals.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

OUR SPONSORS

Scarlet Honolulu Nightclub

Scarlet Honolulu Nightclub

Ari South

Ari South

Rated R Hawaii

Rated R Hawaii

Night March

Night March

Rock Candy Hawaii

Rock Candy Hawaii