Yara Shahidi and ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Star Annie Gonzalez to Be Honored at Maui Film Festival

Yara Shahidi, the Black-ish star who recently starred as Tinker Bell in Disneys live-action film Peter Pan Wendy, will be honored with the Shining Star award at the 2023 Maui Film Festival.

The festival has revealed its full honoree and film slate for this years event, which is set to take place from June 28 to July 2 in Kahului.

Shahidi is known for starring as Zoey in ABCs beloved Black-ish and is now the executive producer of Freeforms spinoff series, Grown-ish. She soon will star in Amazons upcoming rom-com Sitting in Bars With Cake, for which she will also serve as EP, along with the upcoming action thriller Ballerina Overdrive.

Off-screen, Shahidi holds a long list of accomplishments, most recently a B.A. in Social Studies and African American Studies from Harvard University. She continues to work with her foundation, WeVoteNext, which helps amplify the voices of younger generations of color in political conversations.

Also being honored this year is actor Annie Gonzalez, who will receive the Rising Star award following her recent role in Eva Longorias Flamin Hot.

Were so excited for this years Maui Film Festival, celebrating exceptional filmmaking in the service of compassionate and transformative storytelling and recognizing our honorees who have made extraordinary contributions to cinema, said Barry Rivers, founder and director of MFF. Our slate is filled with compelling, entertaining, and magical stories that will inspire our Maui community.

Eleven feature films will make up the 2023 MFF slate, including documentaries Humanity Stoked and Common Ground, narrative features Sweet Adventure and Savage Waters and a secret dramedy from an Academy Award-winning director. The films will be screened at the open-air Stardust Cinema.