HIFF46 to showcase 30 Hawaii-made films, premieres of films ‘Navigator,’ ‘Drifter’

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) returns to Oahu on October 21-November 5, followed by screenings November 6-15 on Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii Island.

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The 46th annual edition will feature 84 films, including 34 world premieres, six North American premieres, 12 U.S. premieres and three international premieres. It opens with the world premiere of “The Navigator” at the historic Hawaii Theatre and presents the Hawaii premiere of Sung Kang’s ”Drifter”as centerpiece.

Newly named executive director Jean Lee joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to preview the event, which offers a distinctly Hawaii-centered and globally minded program of new cinema from across the islands, Asia, the Pacific and around the world.

As a cinematic crossroads of East and West, HIFF46 will present an eclectic mix of major festival discoveries and awards-season contenders alongside emerging filmmakers, Indigenous storytellers, Asian and Pacific Islander voices, and a carefully curated showcase of films made in Hawaii.

The HIFILM Industry Conference returns for its second year on Oct. 24-25 at Chaminade University in the Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center. The event brings together filmmakers, storytellers, and industry professionals from Hawaii, the Pacific, and beyond for a weekend of inspiring conversations, industry insights, and meaningful connections.

Festival passes are now available through the festival’s official website.

Kanaka Maoli stories take center stage

The lineup features 30 Hawaii-made films, including three productions spotlighting Native Hawaiian history, activism, and cultural practice:

Sung Kang brings ‘Drifter’ to Hawaii

”Drifter,” directed by actor and filmmaker Sung Kang, explores car culture, community, and Hawaii’s underground drifting scene during the 1990s.

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Kang, widely recognized for portraying Han in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, will attend the festival in person to present the film following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“It’s incredibly exciting to present the Hawaii premiere of ”Drifter” as HIFF’s Centerpiece Presentation. Hawaii 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,” Anderson Le, HIFF artistic director, said in news release. “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.”

International selections and Cannes premieres

Four features arrive at HIFF46 following premieres at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival:

Additionally, HIFF’s New American Perspectives program, presented in partnership with the Vilcek Foundation, will present the U.S. premieres of “Los Vampires,” starring Oahu based actor Henry Ian Cusick known for his role in Lost and “Sgt Haane” starring New Zealand-born actor Alex Tarrant known for his role in NCIS Hawaii.

Pathway to the Oscars

As Hawaii’s only Oscar-qualifying festival for short films, category winners at HIFF earn eligibility for Academy Award consideration.

Short films include “The Baddest Screenwriter of All,” co-directed by Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot and NBA star Stephen Curry; “Oli,” directed by Nicholas Gianforti; “The Man and the Tree,” directed by Justyn Ah Chong; “Pouakai (Raptor),” directed by Libby Hakaraia; and “Sheesh, A Taylor Love Story,” directed by Ramona S. Diaz.

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Find the full festival schedule and purchase tickets online.