Personnel

Director/Founder
Emerson Goo

Creative Advisors
Anthony Banua-Simon
Melina Kiyomi Coumas

Advisors provide occasional feedback on the overall direction of undercurrents to ensure that programming remains bold, engaging, and incisive.

With gratitude to:
Arik Ma, Kera Rasavanh, Donnie Cervantes, Anderson Le, Aaron Hansen, Taylour Chang, Sarah Fang, Adam Piron

Frequently Asked Questions

Why start undercurrents? Why would Hawaiʻi benefit from this?

undercurrents began with a simple desire to show films that aren't screening in Hawaiʻi's theaters. Between films with wide theatrical distribution and those selected for local film festivals, there are many exceptional titles which fall by the wayside and which often are not readily available on streaming or home video. We aim to bring these films to Hawaiʻi audiences, instigate discussion around them, and engage artist-led/community spaces as screening venues. We believe in the power of collective viewing and alternative exhibition and distribution practices. We want to build further interest in independent, documentary, and experimental filmmaking in Hawaiʻi.

Who’s behind undercurrents?

I’m Emerson Goo, a Honolulu-based film critic and curator. This is a non-institutional passion project which is largely self-funded (at least for now). By day, I work as an urban planner and designer.

When did undercurrents start and what is the schedule of events?

We started in early 2026, with an initial goal of presenting at least six or seven programs each year. There is no fixed schedule for screenings, but they will be announced as far in advance as possible on this website and on our Instagram page.

Where will undercurrents take place?

For now, just in Honolulu. Expanding across the pae ʻāina is a future goal! Venues vary by screening, check event pages or our Instagram for details.

What is your curatorial focus?

We're quite omnivorous, in keeping with the evolving and fluid nature of undercurrents as a project. That said, we're particularly interested in:

🌊 Unique perspectives on living in islands, by coasts, in the tropics, from the watery, riverine, marshy parts of our world.

🪨 Films which build solidarity through resistance against and across national and colonially-imposed borders.

🔮 Experiments in form, narrative, and process which expand the possibilities of this thing called "cinema."

🎬 Education for local filmmakers: work-in-progress screening opportunities, informal film workshops, and promoting critical writing from Hawai‘i and the wider Pacific.

How will undercurrents be financially sustainable? Do you charge for tickets?

undercurrents is supported by the money I make from freelance writing, sponsorships (cash or in-kind), ticket sales, and a ton of sweat equity.

Some events will be free. Some will have a suggested donation amount associated with entry, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Some will require a ticket purchase. This largely depends on the complexity and scale of the event. Ticket sales are not for profit but to recoup expenses. Unless otherwise stated, all donations and ticket sales go into supporting future programming.

Are you paying participating filmmakers?

Absolutely. We'll pay what distributors agree upon, and for undistributed films, we'll work out a fair price directly with filmmakers.

Are there precedents to what you're doing?

There are many examples of grassroots/DIY, small-scale film programming being done around the world. To provide a few from just the US and Hawaiʻi:

Mezzanine in Los Angeles gave the city a badly-needed dose of contemporary art cinema. Elizabeth Purchell’s film series in New York and elsewhere have drawn in audiences with their smart, focused themes. I admire Joshua Minsoo Kim and his publication, Tone Glow, which has screened experimental films in Chicago to great success. I take inspiration from the many microcinemas across the US which run on people’s love of film and their desire to show others what they love about it. Closer to home, I’m inspired by the history of the Cinema Paradise and Honolulu Underground film festivals (both organized by Christopher Kahunahana), both of which seeded the idea of doing something similar in my mind.

I want to donate to support undercurrents/I have a sponsorship idea in mind!

Thank you so much! Please see our Contact page to get in touch.