14 DAY PRODUCTIONS "Drive Thru South Central American" is the fourth installment in the "Drive Thru" reality series. It follows five surfers on a two-week surf trip.

Big Wave Drive-In

Waialua film festival offers 23
of the best past and present
big-wave flicks

It's the perfect event at the perfect time and place.

Surf Drive-In Film Festival On screen: Thursday to Sunday Place: Waialua Community Association, 66-434 Kamehameha Highway Tickets: $8 per film, available in Haleiwa at Surf N Sea, 62-595 Kamehameha Highway, or in Honolulu at Snorkel Bob's, 702 Kapahulu Ave. Free events: Saturday's Tribute Night and Sunday's Bonfire Chat Information: www.surfdrive-in.com

The first ever Surf Drive-In Film Festival, featuring a tidal wave of 23 films, will take place Thursday through Sunday at the Waialua Community Association.

Festival films will include some of surfing's greatest past and present surf movies by legends such as Bud Browne, Greg Noll, Bruce Brown, George Greenough, Bill Delaney and Greg Macgillivray. There are several world, U.S. and Hawaii premieres and a surf filmmaker panel discussion.

Thursday

9 p.m.: "Pororoca: Surfing the Amazon," followed by the world premiere of "The Mystic," Bill Ballard's film following surfers from northern Chile to Western Lombok, the South Pacific, Southern Australia and Hawaii. Also screening: "Kamea," about a girl who falls in love with a surfer who's obsessed with surf legend Duke Kahanamoku. In trying to impress the boy, the young Kamea makes her own connection with Duke and gains a sense of self.

10 p.m.: Opening-night party

Friday

9 p.m.: World premiere of "Change the Subject," followed by "The Sixth Element," about big-wave surfing. "Change ...," shot on 16 mm and digital video, focuses on modern performance surfing, including epic clashes between world champions in locations from France, Spain and Tahiti to Australia, Hawaii and California. The film features Kelly Slater, Andy and Bruce Irons, Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, the Hobgoods, Dean Morrison, Joel Parkinson, Cory and Shea Lopez, Taylor Knox, Chris Ward and Paul Paterson. "Kamea" repeats.

Saturday

3 p.m.: '70s flashback begins with Hawaii premieres of "2 Mo Betah" and "The Far Shore," followed by the surfing classic "Five Summer Stories."

5 p.m.: Tribute Night features free documentary on surf film pioneer Bud Brown.

6:30 p.m.: Family Environment section includes "Kokua" and "Riding Waves."

8 p.m.: Films for ages 15 and over (due to language) include the world premiere of "Freak Show" and Hawaii premieres of "Electric Mayhem" and "Drive-Thru South Central America."

Sunday

6:30 p.m.: A classic surf film, to be announced, will be screened along with the Hawaii premiere of "Ocean Tribe" (rated R due to language), about four childhood friends who reunite seven years after high school to take a dying friend on a last road trip to Baja, Mexico.

8:30 p.m.: Bruce Brown's classic, "The Endless Summer."