Seven student film makers from the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii will screen their latest works during the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival on Tuesday as part of an educational exchange program.

The program initiated last year partners ACM and the Hawaii International Film Festival with Shanghai University and the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Under the program, student works from the two universities are featured in the two festivals each year.

Student film makers are also awarded full delegate status at each festival so they can meet with top film directors, producers and industry professionals.

"This is the second year of our Student Media Art Exchange with Shanghai," said Professor Tom Brislin, ACM chair.

"The two film festivals in Hawaii and Shanghai share a theme to support our emerging film talents. We hope to provide them a chance to showcase their very original works and learn from top film makers."

Last October, six short films produced by students at Shanghai University were well received when screened at the Hawaii film festival.

Jay Hubert, a third-year student at the University of Hawaii, has seen his short film Dao entered into competition at this year's Shanghai Film Festival.

"My film tries to portray the delicate relationship between a young woman and her brutal cousin who emigrate from Fujian Province of China to Hawaii," Hubert said.

"Our festival leads many others with its discovery and exhibition of Asian and Pacific cinema," said Chuck Boller, executive director of the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Organizers of the 27th annual Hawaii International Film Festival, which will be held in October, plan to host a two-week workshop for Shanghai University students.

Representatives of the two universities will discuss possible expansion of the program to include educational seminars and student co-productions.

(Shanghai Daily June 19, 2007)