VFF25: "Daniel Ho: Life as an Audition" with "Composer Bot"

Explore two extraordinary stories where music becomes both a battleground and a bridge between tradition and innovation.

In , ukulele virtuoso Daniel Ho takes audiences on an intimate journey through triumph and adversity. From growing up in Hawaii—surfboards, slack-key guitar, and the searing loss of his mother—to winning GRAMMY awards and facing backlash over his identity, Ho’s story is one of resilience, independence, and the power of music to both preserve heritage and transcend borders. His life redefines Hawaiian music as a language for the world.

In stark contrast, plunges into the digital frontier of creativity. As AI-generated songs flood the internet by the millions, a composer responds by coding an app that clones his own musical sensibilities—an audacious experiment that questions the role of authenticity, artistry, and survival in the age of artificial intelligence.

Together, these films offer a dynamic double feature: one artist’s fight to honor roots and identity, and another’s quest to adapt and endure in a radically changing soundscape.

Note: Films are unrated by the MPAA. Program is current at time of publication and titles may be subject to change.

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