The Hawai‘i International Film Festival recently announced its first wave of films for the 46th edition of the festival, which takes place Oct. 21 through Nov. 5 on Oʻahu, followed by screenings on Neighbor Islands.
HIFF is the only Academy Awards-qualifying film festival for short films in the state and is an international film festival dedicated to advancing cinema from Hawaiʻi, Asia and the Pacific. This year, the festival, which is being presented by Halekūlani Hotel, starts on Oʻahu, and will be followed by screenings on Neighbor Islands from Nov. 6 through Nov. 15.
The list of 15 films being announced includes the Hawai’i premiere of “Drifter,” directed by Sung Kang; 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 competing for the Academy Award-qualifying Best Short Film Award.
“Drifter” is the centerpiece presentation of the festival and will be having its Hawaiʻi premiere. The film focuses on car culture, community, and Hawaiʻi’s 1990s underground drifting scene. The film recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Its director, Kang, is known for his role as Han in the ʻFast & Furious’ movies.
“It’s incredibly exciting to present the Hawai’i premiere of ʻDrifter’ as HIFF’s Centerpiece Presentation,” said Anderson Le, HIFF’s artistic director, in a written statement. “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. Sung Kang was embraced by that community through his iconic role as Han in the ʻFast & 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.”
Also announced in the first wave of films for the festival is the world premiere of “Protecting Kahoʻolawe: 50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina,” which is directed by Mark Carpenter and Corbin Gregory. The film is being released 50 years after the historic landing of the Kahoʻolawe Nine and chronicles the founding of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, as well as generations of restoration and activism.
Also having its world premiere is “Making the Line,” directed by Zilla Barbosa, which explores how hula continues to evolve while honoring ancestral traditions. At the heart of the story are two queer kanaka maoli kumu hula training a diverse group of haumāna, or students, for the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival.
“Ea (Sovereign),” directed by Noah Keone Viernes and Sancia Miala Shiba Nash, will also be part of the festival and focuses on Ke‘eaumoku Kapu, a Kanaka ‘Ōiwi community leader, activist, and caretaker of Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui Cultural Center in Lahaina. The film explores sovereignty, cultural preservation and kuleana.
HIFF continues its partnership with the Vilcek Foundation through the New American Perspectives program, which will bring these two films to the festival: “Los Vampires,” which stars Oʻahu-based actor Henry Ian Cusick, known for his role in “Lost;” and “Sgt Haane,” which features Aotearoa-born actor Alex Tarrant, who appeared in “NCIS: Hawaiʻi” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
The short films featured include the Hawaiʻi premieres of “The Baddest Screenwriter of All,” and “Sheesh, A Taylor Love Story;” the U.S. premiere of “Pouākai (Raptor);” and the world premieres of “Oli” and “The Man and the Tree."
Find the full list of first wave films on HIFF’s website. Passes for HIFF 46 are now on sale. All-access passes for screenings at the Kahala and Kapolei venues start at $400 for HIFF members and $500 for non-members. Packages of six or 12 tickets are also available. Get a pass.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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