Joe Abella Wins Inaugural Fast Kine Maui Film Challenge

Joe Abella Wins $500 Grand Prize at Inaugural Fast Kine Maui Film Challenge

Local filmmakers celebrated the debut of the four-day challenge with a packed premiere party at The Fuzz Box in Lahaina on March 29.

Sofia Chen

Apr 4, 2026, 3:04 PM PT · 1 min read

THE RUNDOWN

Joe Abella won the $500 grand prize for 'Is That My Plate Lunch?'.
The challenge was organized by Hisako Film Lab and Fuzz Box Productions.
Filmmakers had exactly four days to complete their short films for the event.
The premiere party took place on March 29 at The Fuzz Box in Lahaina.
The competition officially kicked off for participants on March 20.

The inaugural Fast Kine Maui 4-Day Film Challenge officially wrapped its debut run with a high-energy premiere party on March 29. Hosted at The Fuzz Box in Lahaina, the event showcased the work of local creatives who were tasked with writing, shooting, and editing original short films in just 96 hours. The competition was organized by Hisako Film Lab and Fuzz Box Productions to provide a platform for Maui’s storytelling talent.

Filmmaker Joe Abella emerged as the big winner of the night, securing the $500 grand prize for his short film, "Is That My Plate Lunch?". The challenge began on March 25, pushing participants to work under a strict deadline to complete their projects. The resulting films represented a wide range of styles, all reflecting the unique culture and creativity of the island.

The premiere party saw a full house of supporters and industry enthusiasts, according to reports from Maui Now. Organizers expressed excitement over the successful launch, noting that the event highlighted the resilience and skill of the West Maui creative community. The success of the first Fast Kine challenge sets the stage for future competitions aimed at fostering the local film scene.