The Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) today announces its First Wave of Films for the 46th edition of the Festival (HIFF46), taking place October 21–November 5, 2026 on O‘ahu, followed by screenings across the Neighbor Islands.
HIFF46 PASSES ON SALE NOW
This first look at HIFF46 previews 15 films representing the Festival’s commitment to Hawai‘i, Asia, the Pacific, and emerging voices in American and global cinema. The announcement includes the Hawai’i Premiere of DRIFTER, directed by Sung Kang, who will be honored at HIFF46; three films with strong Hawai‘i ties; two selections from the New American Perspectives program presented by the Vilcek Foundation; four films arriving at HIFF following premieres at the Cannes Film Festival; and five short films that will vie for the Academy Award®-qualifying Best Short Film Award.
CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION
DRIFTER (USA)
Directed by Sung Kang
Actor and filmmaker Sung Kang steps behind the camera for DRIFTER, a visceral love letter to car culture, community, and Hawai‘i’s 1990s underground drifting scene. Following its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, HIFF will host the film’s Hawai’i Premiere as a Centerpiece Presentation. Kang, whose work across the Fast & Furious franchise helped redefine Asian American representation in global popular culture, will be in attendance to present his film to Hawai’i audiences.
”It’s incredibly exciting to present the Hawai’i premiere of DRIFTER as HIFF’s Centerpiece Presentation. Hawai‘i was one of the earliest places where Japanese drift culture took root in the West in the 1990s, helping establish a community that would eventually grow into a global phenomenon,” said Anderson Le, HIFF’s Artistic Director. “ Sung Kang was embraced by that community through his iconic role as Han in the Fast & Furious films, and DRIFTER brings that connection full circle. The film is a deeply personal love letter to drifting and the people who built the culture, making its U.S. premiere in Hawai‘i especially meaningful.”
KANAKA MAOLI TIES
EA (Sovereign)
Co-directed by Noah Keone Viernes and Sancia Miala Shiba Nash
A feature documentary centered on Ke‘eaumoku Kapu, a Kanaka ‘Ōiwi community leader, activist, and caretaker of Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui Cultural Center in Lahaina. Through Kapu’s story, the film explores sovereignty, cultural preservation, ancestral responsibility, and the ongoing fight for Lahaina’s future.
PROTECTING KAHO‘OLAWE: 50 YEARS OF ALOHA ‘ĀINA (World Premiere)
Co-directed by Mark Carpenter and Corbin Gregory
Marking 50 years since the historic first landing by the “Kaho‘olawe Nine,” this documentary chronicles the island’s painful history, the founding of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, and generations of restoration and activism. Through personal stories and historical reflection, the film celebrates an enduring movement grounded in aloha ‘āina.
MAKING THE LINE (World Premiere)
Directed by Zilla Barbosa
MAKING THE LINE takes place in contemporary Hawai‘i, where the practice of Hula continues to evolve—honoring deep ancestral traditions while adapting to the realities of modern life as the 50th state. At the center of this story are two queer Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) Kumu Hula (hula masters and cultural teachers)—longtime partners in leadership—who train a diverse team of haumāna (students) for one of the most prestigious stages of competition in Hawaiian culture: the Merrie Monarch Festival.
NEW AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES
Presented by the Vilcek Foundation
HIFF continues its partnership with the Vilcek Foundation through New American Perspectives (NAP), a program celebrating immigrant and foreign-born artists whose work has made an impact on contemporary American cinema.
“Diversity sparks dialogue. The richness of today’s cinematic landscape is made possible by the contributions of immigrants, Indigenous, and independent artists from around the globe. The Vilcek Foundation is honored to continue our longstanding partnership with the Hawai’i International Film Festival by supporting this year’s New American Perspectives program,” said Rick Kinsel, President of The Vilcek Foundation.
Here is a sneak peek with two films and two actors in this year’s NAP, reflecting the diverse voices, experiences, and creative perspectives shaping American and global storytelling today.
LOS VAMPIRES (U.S. Premiere)
Starring Henry Ian Cusick (born in Peru)
Fictionalizing the making of George Melford’s 1931 Spanish-language DRACULA, the film follows a Spanish actor shooting at night on the same sets used by the English-language production during the day. As rivalry grows between the two productions’ leading men, a string of real-life murders begins unfolding around the soundstage. The film stars Peru-born and Oahu based actor Henry Ian Cusick (LOST).
SGT HAANE (U.S. Premiere)
Starring Alex Tarrant (born in Aotearoa, New Zealand)
Featuring Aotearoa-born actor Alex Tarrant (NCIS: HAWAII, THE RINGS OF POWER),SGT HAANE brings a powerful Pacific perspective to HIFF’s New American Perspectives program, highlighting the global journeys and experiences that continue to shape American screen culture.
STRAIGHT FROM CANNES
Here is a sneak peek of four acclaimed films to be presented at HIFF46 following their premieres at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, reinforcing HIFF’s role as Hawai‘i’s gateway to the newest discoveries in international cinema.
ALL OF A SUDDEN (France, Japan, Germany, Belgium)
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
From Academy Award-winning DRIVE MY CAR filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi comes ALL OF A SUDDEN, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Hamaguchi turns his perceptive eye toward the unexpected shifts that can transform ordinary lives, tracing intimate encounters, chance connections, and emotional revelations with his signature precision. Anchored by nuanced performances and richly observed characters, this quietly captivating drama finds profound meaning in the moments when everything suddenly changes.
CLUB KID (USA)
Directed by Jordan Firstman
Fresh from its buzzy Cannes premiere, where it became one of the festival’s most talked-about films, CLUB KID follows a hard-partying New York City club promoter whose whirlwind lifestyle is upended by the sudden arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had. Starring and directed by Jordan Firstman, this outrageous yet unexpectedly heartfelt comedy collides nightlife excess with the realities of instant fatherhood. An A24 Release.
9 TEMPLES TO HEAVEN (Thailand)
Directed by Sompot Chidgasornpongse
A Thai family of nine embarks on a journey through temples, faith, family dynamics, and the search for something beyond the everyday in the latest film from one of Thailand’s distinctive contemporary filmmakers.
IN WAVES (France, USA)
Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen
In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.
HAWAI‘I’S ONLY ACADEMY AWARD®-QUALIFYING FILM FESTIVAL
HIFF is the only film festival in the State of Hawai‘i recognized as an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for short films. Winners of HIFF’s qualifying short film categories become eligible for consideration in the Academy Awards® Short Film competition, providing filmmakers with a direct pathway toward Oscar® consideration and placing Hawai‘i on the global stage for emerging cinematic talent.
“Being an Academy Award®-qualifying film festival gives HIFF a unique opportunity to champion short-form storytelling and provide filmmakers with a meaningful pathway to the global stage,” says Melina Coumas, HIFF Program Manager and Shorts Programmer. “Short films are often where bold new voices emerge, and we’re proud that HIFF can help introduce these filmmakers to audiences in Hawai‘i while creating opportunities for their work to reach far beyond our shores.”
Here is a sneak peek of a variety of short films that will be presented at HIFF46:
THE MAN AND THE TREE (Hawai‘i)
Directed by Justyn Ah Chong
When the city orders the removal of the mango tree that has rooted three generations of his family, a dying grandfather beats them to it — and gives the tree, and himself, a new kind of homecoming.
THE BADDEST SCREENWRITER OF ALL (USA)
Directed by Ben Proudfoot & Stephen Curry
Martin Luther King Jr.’s attorney and speechwriter shares personal sacrifices and revelations from his Civil Rights Movement experience, providing a behind-the-scenes perspective of this historic era. Co-directed by Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot and NBA superstar Stephen Curry.
OLI (Hawai‘i)
Directed by Nicholas Gianforti
Paʻakai, a Kānaka Maoli soldier, returns home carrying the trauma of war and survivor’s guilt. Struggling to reconnect with his mother, his culture, and himself, he must confront the wounds of his past and rediscover what it means to live.
POUĀKAI (RAPTOR) (Aotearoa, New Zealand )
Directed by Libby Hakaraia
When his only child is snatched by a legendary giant raptor, a young Māori chief must confront his deepest fears and summon the strength of his ancestors to face the creature in its mountaintop eyrie.
SHEESH, A TAYLOR LOVE STORY (USA, Philippines)
Directed by Ramona S. Diaz
In a country where drag is both art and survival, a Filipino impersonator named Taylor Sheesh turns Taylor Swift fandom into a movement of joy, belonging, self-expression, and empowerment — revealing the power of queer performance to make people feel seen, beautiful, and free in a region still fighting for equality.
