Joe Wilson
Directing
Known For

A transgender Native Hawaiian teacher inspires a young girl to fulfill her destiny of leading the school's male hula troupe, even as she struggles to find love and a committed relationship in her own life.
Kumu Hina

Long ago, four extraordinary beings of dual male and female spirit, led by Kapaemahu, brought certain healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii and were loved by the people for their gentle ways and the miraculous cures they performed.
Kapaemahu

A valiant island warrior, wounded in battle against foreign invaders, falls into a mysterious underwater world. When the octopus who rescued him transforms into a handsome young man, they fall in love and an epic adventure begins.
Aikāne

There may not be any secrets in a small town, but there is an expectation of silence. In A Town Called Oil City, the return of a native son to announce his same sex wedding and help a gay teen who is being tormented at school offers a chance to change the way things have always been done.
Out in the Silence

Eleven year old Ho'onani dreams of leading the hula troupe at her inner-city Honolulu school. The only trouble is that the group is just for boys. She's fortunate that her teacher understands first-hand what it's like to be 'in the middle' - the ancient Hawaiian tradition of embracing both male and female spirit. Together they set out to prove that what matters most is to be true to yourself.
A Place in the Middle

The story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, an intrepid group of transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in the South Pacific Kingdom.
Leitis in Waiting

A documentary that explores the Native Hawaiian concept of gender fluidity by interweaving intimate interviews with a multimedia stage performance featuring hula, chant, and contemporary music. The film centers on the artistic collaborators of the show—all acclaimed Hawaiian transgender artists—offering a powerful reflection on identity, culture, and expression.
MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Story

A brave young transgender woman sets off on a journey to become her true self in the conservative Pacific Island kingdom of Tonga—with a little inspiration from Tina Turner.
Lady Eva

Legendary 80 year-old showgirl Brandy Lee recalls how the Glade, a Honolulu nightclub famous for its “Boys Will Be Girls” revue, became a place of community, refuge, and joy for mahu – individuals of dual male and female spirit – during a time of violent anti-trans discrimination.