‘Picture Bride’
filmmaker drowns

Kayo Hatta, an independent filmmaker and director best known for her Sundance Film Festival award-winning film "Picture Bride," died Wednesday in Encinitas, Calif.

The cause of death was an accidental drowning. She was 47.

Hatta also was a screenwriter, documentarian and educator, and her "Picture Bride" film was one of the first independent projects made in Hawaii. Her newest film, "Fishbowl," will be shown in October at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Lori "Kayo" Hatta was born in Honolulu and grew up in Hawaii and New York. She received a B.A. in English from Stanford University and an M.F.A. in Film from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Hatta's critically acclaimed film "Picture Bride" won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the 1994 Cannes International Film Festival.

"Picture Bride" was recently released on DVD -- becoming a best-selling video in Hawaii -- and is now part of the educational curriculum in many local schools and universities.

Hatta's most recent work also took place in Hawaii. "Fishbowl" is a 30-minute coming-of-age film based on Lois-Ann Yamanaka's stories in "Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers" (Harvest Books, 1996). "Fishbowl" premiered in March at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

As a collaborator, Hatta played key roles in the development and production of several recent major films. She was co-producer of the award-winning film "The Olive Harvest," directed by Hanna Elias, a romantic allegory of Palestinian culture today.

The film was the Palestine Authority's entry to the 2005 Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Hatta also helped to produce and film Liz Cane's upcoming 30-minute documentary "Hungry for Your Kisses," a portrait of her 95-year-old grandfather.

Over the course of her career, Hatta received numerous honors. In Hawaii she received the Hawaii Council of the City and County of Honolulu Certificate Honoring Women Filmmakers of "Picture Bride" for Outstanding Achievement in Film; a Hawaii State Senate Testimonial of Commendation; and a Hawaii State House of Representatives Testimonial of Commendation.

She is survived by mother Jane Hatta of Honolulu and sisters Julie and Mari Hatta of San Francisco and Carrie Hatta of Honolulu. She is also survived by half sisters Eri Hatta of Alameda, Calif., and Chika and Yuki Hatta of Las Vegas; niece and nephew Megumi and Kenjo Hatta-Wong; and fiance Douglas Hetrick of Leucadia, Calif.

Services will be held in Honolulu on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Moiliili Hongwanji Temple, 902 University Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to "Asian Improv aRts," earmarked "Kayo Hatta Fund" and mailed to Asian Improv aRts, 201 Spear St., Suite 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105.