Following a successful film festival run, “My Partner,” a tender boys’ love coming-of-age tale — the final film to shoot on location in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi prior to the devastating fire in 2023 — is now available on major video-on-demand streaming platforms.

The film stars native Hawaiian Kaipo Dudoit and Filipino Jayron Muñoz in their debut feature film roles, with Dudoit now set to star in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of the hit 2002 animated movie, “Lilo & Stitch.”

In the United States, “My Partner” may be purchased or rented in online platforms such as Google Play and Microsoft Store.

“My Partner” — produced and filmed entirely in Hawai’i — features a traditional Hawaiian and island music soundtrack. Grappling with many of the cultural and social issues facing the people of Hawai’i today, “My Partner” is a time capsule picture of historic Lahaina, Hawaiʻi, sadly lost to fire. The film production recognized the practices of Hawai’i’s Kanaka host culture to ensure all aspects of the production would have a positive impact on Hawai’i and the communities represented in the film.

In “My Partner,” two high school seniors in rural West Maui live in different worlds, but they soon learn they aren’t so different after all. Pili (Dudoit), an extroverted Hawaiian jock, and Edmar (Muñoz), a high-achieving, introverted Filipino gamer, are caught up in a rivalry between opposing senior class friend groups at Lahainaluna High School.

Jayron Muñoz and Kaipo Dudoit
Jayron Muñoz and Kaipo Dudoit in “My Partner.” KSG Films

The conflict comes to a head when Edmar’s group catches Pili’s group in the act of overfishing a native species in a restored freshwater stream. Things heat up further when Pili and Edmar’s social studies teacher assigns the boys to work on their semester project together.

Despite protests and being forced to work together, Pili and Edmar slowly learn that, despite appearances, they and their cultures have much in common, becoming closer as they spend time together — Pili learning about Filipino immigrants to Hawai’i and Edmar learning about Hawaiian culture and history. But things swirl out of control when their friends get into a battle.

Distributed by Random Media, “My Partner” was produced by KSG Films and is the feature film debut of director Keli’i Grace, a native Hawaiian visual storyteller. Attorney Lance D. Collins — who grew up in Maui and is a leading advocate for local history and culture, as well as the series editor of 15 books about West Maui — wrote the story. Alexander Deedy and Sean Dunnington wrote the screenplay. Brock Ladd handled the cinematography. Keli’i Grace and Jess T. Johnston produced the film.

“My Partner” is KSG Films’ first boys love feature film. Boys’ love began as a Japanese literary genre and was popularized in manga during the 1980s to 1990s, then spread in popularity across Asia. Today, Boys’ love has a worldwide following, with The Economist recently comparing its popularity to K-pop.

“My Partner” won several awards at various film festivals. It received the Audience Award (Narrative) at the 2023 L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival; the Outstanding Excellence Award (Romance) at the 2023 LGBTQ+ Unbordered International Film Festival; the Grand Jury Award at the 2023 Honolulu Rainbow International Film Festival; the Lily Tomlin Memorial Award at the 2023 San Antonio QFest LGBT International Film Festival; Best Foreign Film at the 2023 Mpumalanga International Film Festival in South Africa; and Honorable Mention for Made in Hawai’i (Feature) at the 2024 Hawai’i International Film Festival.

The film also screened at several other festivals, including the 2024 Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival; the 2024 DisOrient Asian and Pacific Islander American Film Festival in Oregon; the 2023 KASHISH Mumbai Queer International Film Festival; the 2023 BJX Bajio International Film Festival in Mexico; the 2023 Golden Isles Film Festival; the 2023 Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival; the 2023 San Diego Filipino Film Festival; the 2023 Indifest – Festival De Cinema Indígena De Barcelona; the 2023 Twin Cities International Film Festival; and the 2023 Beijing Queer International Film Festival. (With EINPresswire.com)

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