We petition Mark Zuckerberg to GIVE BACK to Hawaii by supporting the renovation of the Academy for Creative Media (ACM) Building at the corner of University and Dole on the University of Hawaii, Mānoa campus. ACM Mānoa is currently in deep crisis because of a lack of funding. Support from Mr Zuckerberg would profoundly impact our program.

For 13 years, ACM Mānoa has empowered local students to tell their own Hawaii-based stories by teaching cinematic narrative theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values, while at the same time nurturing robust job placement programs and internships.

• Our alumni occupy key positions globally in the creative industries
• Our alumni are highly sought after by top graduate film schools including USC, NYU, AFI, CalArts, and Chapman
• We have placed over 90 interns on Hawaii 5-0, more than 40 on LOST, and more on numerous feature films, such as THE DESCENDANTS, and in production companies, advertising agencies, and TV networks
• Our programs have global reach-- In it’s 12th year, the biannual ACM Mānoa SMART Exchange program with Shanghai University has promoted the exchange of more than 120 students from both schools to produce film co-productions in Shanghai and Honolulu and participate in the Shanghai and Hawaii International Film Festivals
• Since 2004, ACM Mānoa has produced more than 150 student short films a year, and is also producing feature films, including the award-winning feature documentary STATE OF ALOHA and the work in progress dramatic feature GO FOR BROKE, a co-production with the 442 Foundation, directed by alumnus Alexander Bocchieri
• ACM Mānoa students, alumni, and faculty have made films that have garnered attention and awards at top international film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Toronto, and Tribeca, and have won numerous grants and accolades, including the recent feature-length film production agreement for $2.5M to bring a Marshall Islands story “Until the Dolphin Flies” to the big screen
• CILECT, (The International Association of Film and Television Schools), a prestigious film school consortium, recently inducted ACM Mānoa into its very selective ranks

ACM Mānoa Promo Video: https://vimeo.com/182842354/a91001380e

ACM Student Film Reel: https://vimeo.com/182842565/ec35a2e679