Long (Hiệp Trần Nghĩais an elderly Vietnamese driver in Southern California 
answers a late-night call for a ride. Already in his pajamas, he reluctantly
accepts, picking up a man, Tây (Dustin Nguyen), and his two companions. But the men, recently escaped convicts from an Orange County jail, take Long hostage at gunpoint, thrusting him into their getaway plan. When complications arise, the fugitives and their hostage hole up at a motel, and a tense waiting game unfolds. Sing J. Lee’s striking visuals and mood driven aesthetic 
set the tone for unnerving intensity, punctuated by moments of humor and warmth. Inspired by a true story, this is not just a crime film, but a stirring portrait of this lonely, old man and his relationship with a dangerous and troubled criminal by the name of Tây. Co-screenwriter and director Sing J. Lee won the Best Director Award at the 3023 Sundance Film Festival for his work on The Accidental Getaway Driver. 
The Sundance Jurors responsible for picking the winner of the award wrote, “The jury (which included Jeremy O. Harris, Eliza Hittman, and Marlee Matlin) was bowled over by this director’s singular vision that merged the grit of a Western crime film and the poetic imagery of Asian New Wave. This hybridized approach 
revealed the complexities of existing between cultures and evoked an enormous amount of empathy for its protagonist and the true story underneath it.” Co-screenwriter and director Sing J. Lee joins us for a conversation on how his work in producing high profile music videos helped prepare him for his noir-ish look and feel for his award winning debut feature film.
To watch go to: theaccidentalgetawaydriver.official.film
About the filmmaker – Sing J. Lee is an award-winning writer and director. Born in Manchester, of Hong Kong descent, his work is often characterized by his distinctvisual language that explores the human condition. Alongside the widespread recognition for his early short films, including BBC’s Best of the North, Lee’s music videos also received international acclaim, awarded by Cannes Lions, VMA’s and Clios. In 2016, Lee was commissioned by the British Council to direct a sci-fi adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare.Selected as Variety’s Top Ten Storytellers to Watch in 2019, Lee’s notable collaborations have included Donald Glover, Alicia Keys & The Killers.In 2023, his select work was showcased at the Barbican Centre as part of Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now exhibition. He was subsequently named a BAFTA Breakthrough Fellow that same year. Lee premiered his directorial feature debut,The Accidental Getaway Driver, at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where he received the Directing Award for U.S. Dramatic.
85% on RottenTomatoes
“Although the film starts as a gritty crime thriller, it pivots, unexpectedly but effectively, into something much more tender. It’s a testament to Lee’s confidence and his sensitivity that the shift from white-knuckle tension to earnest emotion works as well as it does.” – Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter
“One of those rare, where-did-this-come-from films that every so often pops up to invigorate adventurous viewers on the lookout for something fresh and different.” – Todd McCarthy, Deadline
“Lee’s too subtle to say it out loud, but there’s a hushed irony in that Long attempted to rebuild a life halfway around the world only to wind up in the same place: captive at gunpoint.” – Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times
“The Accidental Getaway Driver is a quiet examination of the things we hold onto and how they haunt us.” – Sharai Bohannon, Dread Central
“A bold and graceful crime movie. Lee’s confident film has numerous moments of filmmaking magic.” – Nick Allen, Roger Ebert. com