SXSW 2026 Exclusive: Drift interviews director Deon Taylor and climber-photographer Isaac “Drift” Wright
Among the films that had its World Premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival was the documentary Drift, directed by Deon Taylor.
DRIFT is the story of Isaac Wright, a self-taught photographer and Army veteran who goes by the same moniker and who has built a massive social media following (@driftershoots) by illegally scaling bridges and skyscrapers to photograph his summits. As the climbs grow more dangerous and the threat of police and jail time looms, the film reveals how his high-risk art becomes a way of confronting the aftermath of his Army deployment — an adrenaline-fueled journey that is both thrilling and deeply emotional. He’s awesome.
Taylor, known for his work in horror and thriller films. is the founder of Hidden Empire Film Group. His films have included Supremacy, Meet The Blacks, Traffik, The Intruder, Black and Blue, Fatale, The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2, and Fear.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to director Deon Taylor and photographer Isaac “Drift” Wright on the documentary Drift at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival.