US PREMIERE
DRIFTER
In a forgotten desert town, Tree, a solitary racetrack janitor with an extraordinary gift for drifting, is given one last chance to compete at the professional level. Haunted by personal tragedy and accustomed to navigating life alone, he soon discovers that raw talent behind the wheel is not enough. Under the guidance of a hardened mentor and surrounded by a tight-knit community of racers, he must learn to trust others and embrace the family he never knew he needed.
Co-written, directed, co-produced (along with Brian Yang of HAWAII FIVE-O and LINSANITY), and starring Sung Kang, DRIFTER is both a classic hero’s journey and a heartfelt love letter to car culture. Rooted in the spirit of grassroots drifting—a sport that found an early home in Hawaiʻi in the 1990s through bootleg VHS tapes from Japan before spreading across the U.S. continent—the film captures the authenticity, camaraderie, and passion of the drifting community. Eschewing the eventual Hollywood slopification of the later FAST & FURIOUS films, DRIFTER delivers thrilling practical racing action while celebrating the people who live for the drive.
HIFF 2026 Maverick Award recipient Sung Kang will be in attendance for a special Q&A after the first screening.
Preview
Tickets
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Tuesday, October 27, 2026
8:15 PM• Consolidated Theatres Kahala
Sunday, November 15, 2026
7:00 PM• Palace Theater
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Get Tickets on External Website (opens an external website in a new tab)Credits
Upcoming Dates
Tue, Oct 27
Consolidated Theatres Kahala
Sun, Nov 15
Event Info
- Run Time:
- 147 mins
- Country:
- United States
- Genre:
- Drama
- Language(s):
- English, Korean
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Consolidated Theatres Kahala
4211 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Palace Theater
38 Haili Street
Hilo, HI 96720
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