CHARLIZE THERON PRESENTS KRISTEN STEWART WITH THE AMERICAN RIVIERA AWARD AT THE 37TH ANNUAL SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (March 4, 2022) – Day 3 of the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival presented by UGG concluded with a live tribute to Kristen Stewart, who received the American Riviera Award. Stewart was honored at an in-person conversation with Indiewire Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson for an in-depth discussion about her career leading up to this year’s performance as Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín’s SPENCER from NEON. (Michelle Tarangelo, Sunshine Sachs)
Stewart arrived in glamour sporting Chanel S22 Couture receiving a warm Santa Barbara welcome!
Stay tuned!
Upcoming live conversations and tributes will include presentations to Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Alana Haim, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Simon Rex, Saniyya Sidney and Oscar-nominated producers, writers, and animators. The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place IN-PERSON through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
A Place in the Field made its World Premiere yesterday evening at the 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG, and is the feature directorial debut of female Latina, Nicole Mejia, an American Film Institute Fellow and recipient of an Audi Award Scholarship.
Mejia tackles a difficult subject with tenderness and grace. Post-traumatic stress disorder and veteran suicide have a long history with our nation’s war efforts. Films such as the Marlon Brando led The Men to tend to portray these issues in cold and harsh depictions. Mejia gently offers another way of coping experientially without debilitating pharmaceuticals and/or intensive cognitive psychotherapy – both of which arguably can exacerbate the underlying condition with unwanted and oftentimes debilitating side effects.
Don DiPetta portrays Gio the film’s central character, an Afghanistan combat veteran, and true to the character displays an intense focus – one that his employer likes to put to good use! Notwithstanding, flashbacks of battlefield situations are surfacing calling out for resolution.
Gio’s attentive girlfriend, Jessica, portrayed convincingly by Mishel Prada, notices Gio’s condition and suggests a move to the city. Gio isn’t ready – until he receives his battle buddy’s ashes and a farewell suicide note bidding Gio go to the places they had always talked about during their war-time mission.
So Gio with his strong sense of commitment to duty and to loyalty sets out to fulfill his battle buddy’s dying wish. Along the way, Gio meets colorful characters while discovering holistic and experiential coping mechanisms allowing him to reconcile the unresolved conflicts from his battlefield experience.
Gio completes his “stateside mission” in spreading his battle buddy’s ashes. Through the experience, the actions taken, the words spoken, and the colorful characters engaged, Gio comes out the other side ready to face the new challenges ahead with his civilian life. Interestingly, Director Mejia also embodied the role of Pavla, a captivating shaman/goddess, who gently steers Gio toward the challenging path of healing without any reservations after a mechanical failure with his vehicle.
Nikki Mejia
I have not seen a bad film at the 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival – and I have seen several thus far. I will say right now – A Place in The Field is exquisite! It is beautifully shot by Kadri Koop – full of symbolism and metaphors, spoken and unspoken. Khori Ellis is credited as the writer with Don DiPetta, Xochitl Portillo, and Bluesmon Del Vecchio receiving writing credits also. The casting is spot-on as DiPetta looks and personifies, Gio, with grace and ease. The supporting cast all look the part. Kuddos to Costumer Kaja Sondergaard.
In addition, the soundtrack adds subtle ambiance and augments and amplifies tone in various scenes with a Southwestern musical sensibility. Matt Glanvill and Miguel Angel Rodriguez are credited with sound. A Place in The Field is produced by Heliya Alam, Niyah Edwards, Michael Fishman, Nikki Mejia, along with a slew of executive producers including Don DiPetta.
A Place in The Field is a “must-see” selection for the 2022 Santa Barbara Film Festival! The film is scheduled for a second screening at 2:40 P.M. on Monday, March 7th, 2022, at the Metro 4 in Auditorium 3. Get there! You’ll be glad you did!
KRISTEN STEWART, WILL SMITH, NICOLE KIDMAN, JAVIER BARDEM, PENELOPE CRUZ, AUNJANUE ELLIS, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, CIARAN HINDS, CAITRIONA BALFE, ARIANA DEBOSE, ALANA HAIM, EMILIA JONES, TROY KOTSUR, SIMON REX, SANIYYA SIDNEY, AND MANY MORE TO BE HONORED THROUGHOUT THE 11-DAY FESTIVAL
PANEL DISCUSSIONS WILL INCLUDE STEVEN SPIELBERG, KENNETH BRANAGH, JANE CAMPION, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND MANY MORE
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse speaks onstage at the Opening Night Film “The Phantom of the Open” during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 2, 2022, in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (March 2, 2022) – Last night the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, returned in person and opened with the world premiere of The Phantom of the Open.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse speaks onstage at the Opening Night Film “The Phantom of the Open” during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 2, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)
Moviegoers watched on as Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse took to the stage to welcome attendees from all over the world to Santa Barbara.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling speaks onstage at the Opening Night Film “The Phantom of the Open” during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 2, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
The festival’s Executive Director Roger Durling then introduced the film and said, “While tonight is a celebration, we’re at the same time holding a place in our hearts for the people of Ukraine…Art has the power to bring us together…It’s essential that we started the festival with something positive, a crowd-pleaser, and something uplifting.”
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN, a heartwarming British comedy starring Oscar winners Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance. The film is based on the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, who entered the 1976 British Open despite never having played a round of golf before. He shot the worst round in Open history and drew the ire of the golfing elite, but he ultimately became a folk hero. More importantly, he showed his family the importance of pursuing your dreams.
This year’s festival will feature a full lineup of films including 48 world premieres and 95 US premieres from 54 countries – up 59 more films than last year! As a festival with such diverse leadership, and a particularly strong Latino presence, it was of utmost importance to the team to have films from all over the world be represented, including Nordic/Dutch, Eastern European, Middle Eastern/Israeli, and of course, Spanish and Latin American Cinema.
The funds raised through the festival and affiliated events are vital to the community, providing direct support for SBIFF’s plethora of free programs that serve over 14,000 people annually and reach some of the most vulnerable members of society – including at-risk and underserved youth, low-income families and their children, cancer patients, and transit-dependent senior citizens. SBIFF screens Academy fare in the Arthouse theater throughout the year, even throughout the pandemic, to encourage people to come back to the theater in a safe way.
Upcoming tributes will include live presentations to Kristen Stewart, Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Alana Haim, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Simon Rex, Saniyya Sidney, and many more.
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place IN-PERSON on March 2 through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
(*Featured photo credit: Trina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
(Press release courtesy of Sunshine Sachs, Michelle Tarangelo)
Thurs, March 3 – 8:40 PM (followed by a post-screening Q&A with Gerry Lopez and Stacy Peralta)
Sat, March 5 – 8:20 AM
Location: Metro 4
From Award-Winning documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta comes Patagonia’s The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez, a film that lifts the veil on one of surfing’s most enigmatic heroes. Known as Mr. Pipeline for his calm demeanor in the tube, Gerry Lopez built his career with aggressive surfing that left behind a trail of blood and tears. He is one of the most influential surfers and surfboard shapers of all time, an entrepreneur, a family man, a movie star, and a lifelong yogi who brought surfing to new frontiers. For the first time, the story of this enigmatic hero is being told in full.
Newtok
Directed by Andrew Burton and Michael Kirby Smith
Locations: Metro 1, Tues, March 8 – 5:00 PM
Fiesta 2, Thurs, March 10 – 8:30 AM
Water will erase Newtok, Alaska. Built on a delta at the edge of the Bering Sea, the tiny Yup’ik village has been dealing with melting permafrost, river erosion, and decaying infrastructure for decades. To keep their culture and community intact, the 360 Yup’ik residents must relocate their entire village to stable ground upriver while facing a federal government that has failed to take appropriate action to combat climate change. In moving their village, they will become some of America’s first 21st-century climate refugees. It is a verité portrait of a village seeking justice in the face of climate disaster.
The Ocean Solution
Part of the ‘Nature Shorts’
Directed by Darcy Hennessey Turenne
Locations: Tuesday, March 8 – 11:20 AM, Metro 2
Thursday, March 10 – 7:20 PM, Fiesta 2
Farming under the sea? Meet Bren Smith, the ocean farming pioneer whose vertical kelp and shellfish farms can transform the way food is produced. As a commercial fisherman, Bren’s career was nearly wrecked by the crashing cod stocks in the North Atlantic; he then turned to oyster farming, just in time for catastrophic, climate-driven storms to show him there wasn’t a solid future in that, either. Unwilling to tether himself to land, he took the hard lessons learned and returned to the sea with a new method of restorative ocean farming. What he discovered is a way to produce large quantities of nutritious food that also fights the climate crisis, cleans the ocean, creates aquatic habitat and sustains his sea-going way of life.
The 2022 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), featuring 48 world premieres and 95 U.S. premieres from over 54 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs. The festival will start with the Opening Night Film, the U.S. Premiere of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN, a heartwarming British comedy starring Oscar winners Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance, on Wednesday, March 2nd, 8:00 P.M., at the historic Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara, Calif. The Opening Night Film will be presented by UGG.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN is based on the true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, who managed to gain entry to the qualifying round of The British Open Championship in 1976, despite never having played a round of golf. He shot the worst round in Open history and drew the ire of the golfing elite, but he ultimately became a folk hero, and more importantly, he showed his family the importance of pursuing one’s dreams. Tickets are available HERE.
Masks and proof of vaccination will be required to enter the theater.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films including 100+ premieres representing over 60 countries, tributes, and panel discussions, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is once again offering free filmmaker seminars. In previous years, the seminars were held behind the Lobero Theatre.
This year, however, the conversations will be held outside at Casa de la Guerra located at 15 East De La Guerra Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
The topics reflect films and highlights from the various sections and sidebars programmed for this year’s festival.
Topic – Diversity
Thursday, March 3 – 11:00 AM
Topic – Women Filmmakers
Friday, March 4 – 11:00 AM
Topic – Independent Filmmakers
Monday, March 7 – 11:00 AM
Topic – The Future of Theaters (In this Age of Streaming)
Tuesday, March 8 – 11:00 AM
Topic – International Filmmaking
Wednesday, March 9 – 11:00 AM
Topic – Documentary Activism
Thursday, March 10 – 11:00 AM
Topic – How to Make a Great Short
Friday, March 11 – 11:00 AM
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films including 100+ premieres representing over 60 countries, tributes, and panel discussions, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
CIARÁN HINDS TO BE HONORED WITH SBIFF’S VIRTUOSOS AWARD
Ciarán Hinds
Tonight, Saturday, March 5th, 8 PM, at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif., Ciarán Hinds will be honored with the Virtuosos Award presented by UGG at the 37th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. He will be joining fellow honorees Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Jamie Dornan (BELFAST) Emilia Jones (CODA), Troy Kotsur (CODA), Simon Rex (Red Rocket), and Saniyya Sidney (King Richard) at an in-person conversation about their respective films and Hinds Oscar-nominated performance in Kenneth Branagh’s BELFAST from Focus Features.
The Virtuosos Award is an honor created to recognize a select group of talent whose noteworthy performances in film have elevated them into the national cinematic dialogue. The evening will be moderated for the 12th year by Dave Karger, Turner Classic Movies host.
Last year’s Virtuosos included Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Sidney Flanigan (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian), and Zendaya (Malcolm & Marie).
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place in IN-PERSON from March 2 through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films including 100+ premieres representing over 60 countries, tributes, and panel discussions, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
Variety’s eighth annual Artisans Awards celebrate those essential to the filmmaking process and who have exhibited the most exciting and innovative work of the year in their respective fields. The in-person conversation and tribute will take place Monday, March 7th at 8:00 pm at the historic Arlington Theatre.
“What I love so much about the Artisans Awards and honoring them here at SBIFF, is that this shines a spotlight on those essential to the art of filmmaking and storytelling,” said Variety senior artisans awards editor Jazz Tangcay. “This is their moment to shine and share how they tell a story through their craft and celebrate them. It’s so great to be back in person and to share this with an in-person crowd at the festival.”
SBIFF’s Executive Director added “What festivals and events like the Artisans Awards are all about is connectivity and building community through the art of film. The past two years have not been good to those essential aspects of cinema that I cherish so much. Both Variety and SBIFF are thrilled to be back together celebrating our talented artisans.”
The Variety Artisans Award will be presented to:
Frederic Aspiras and Göran Lundstrom for Makeup and Hairstyling in HOUSE OF GUCCI
Tamara Deverell for Production Design in NIGHTMARE ALLEY
Germaine Franco for Score in ENCANTO
Greig Fraser for Cinematography in DUNE
Lin-Manuel Miranda for Song in ENCANTO
Paul Massey for Sound in NO TIME TO DIE
Kelly Port for Visual Effects in SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Peter Scriberras for Editing in THE POWER OF THE DOG
Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan for Costume Design in DUNE
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place in IN-PERSON from March 2 through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films including 100+ premieres representing over 60 countries, tributes, and panel discussions, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
Penélope Cruz will be honored with the Montecito Award at the 37th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Cruz will receive the award on Tuesday, March 8th, at an in-person conversation about her career leading up to this year’s performance in Pedro Almodóvar’s PARALLEL MOTHERS from Sony Pictures Classic.
SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling (Photo cr. Clint Weisman Studio)
“In the most complex role written by the master Almodovar, Penelope Cruz delivers the best performance of her career and a master class in calibration and detailed acting,” remarked SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling. “In my book, she’s one of the great performers of our time.”
In PARALLEL MOTHERS; Two women, Janis (Penélope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit), coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant, and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way.
PARALLEL MOTHERS
The Montecito Award is named after one of the most beautiful and stylish areas in Santa Barbara. Past recipients include Amanda Seyfried, Lupita Nyong’o, Melissa McCarthy, Saoirse Ronan, Isabelle Huppert, Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, and Javier Bardem.
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place IN-PERSON on March 2 through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000+ attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films including 100+ premieres representing over 60 countries, tributes, and panel discussions, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
37TH FESTIVAL OPENS WITH THE U.S. PREMIERE OF “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN” AND CLOSES WITH “DIONNE WARWICK: DON’T MAKE ME OVER”
FESTIVAL TO PRESENT 95 U.S. PREMIERES AND 48 WORLD PREMIERES
Santa Barbara, CA. (Thursday, February 10, 2022) –The Santa Barbara International Film Festival ® (SBIFF), presented by UGG , announced today the highly anticipated lineup for the 37th edition, which will run March 2 to 12, 2022. The festival will feature 48 world premieres and 95 U.S. premieres from 54 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling (Cr. Clint Wiseman Studio)
SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling stated this morning,
“It brings us an unbridled joy to share our slate for this edition of SBIFF. After two years of incertitude, it feels good to know we can continue to count on film and the festival to give us a sense of comfort and continuity. We’re extremely proud of the offerings at the 37th fest.”
OPENING NIGHT
SBIFF 2022 will start with the Opening Night Film, presented by UGG , on Wednesday, March 2 with the U.S. Premiere of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN, a heartwarming British comedy starring Oscar winners Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance. The film is based on the true story of Maurice Fitcroft, who entered the 1976 British Open despite never having played a round of golf before.
CLOSING NIGHT
SBIFF 2022 will close on Saturday, March 12 with DIONNE WARWICK: DON’T MAKE ME OVER, with the iconic singer in attendance. The documentary follows Warwick as she smashed through cultural, racial, and gender barriers to become the soundtrack for generations and a voice fighting for humanitarian causes. Featuring interviews with Burt Bachrach, Gladys Knight, Gloria Estefan, Snoop Dogg, Bill Clinton, and many more.
THE TRIBUTES
SBIFF is an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 37th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre as well as streamed live.
Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter – Thursday, March 3, at 8:00 pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
● American Riviera Award honoring Kristen Stewart – Friday, March 4 at 8:00 pm. Moderated by Anne Thompson.®
● Virtuosos Award presented by UGG, honoring Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Emilia Jones (CODA), Troy Kotsur (CODA), Simon Rex (Red Rocket), and Saniyya Sidney (King Richard) – Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 pm, moderated by Dave Karger.
● Variety Artisans Award sponsored by Variety – Monday, March 7 at 8:00 pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
● Montecito Award – Tuesday, March 8 at 8:00 pm. Honoree to be announced.
● Outstanding Performers of the Year Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis – Sunday, March 6 at 8:00 pm. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
● Cinema Vanguard Award sponsored by Deadline honoring Benedict Cumberbatch -Wednesday, March 9 at 8:00 pm. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
● Maltin Modern Master Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman – Thursday, March 10 at 8:00 pm. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.
THE PANELS
SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar contenders. Returning will be our annual Producers Panel, Writers Panel, and Women’s Panel. All Panels will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre as well as streamed live. Panelists to be announced. Writers Panel – Saturday, March 5 at 11:00 am – Moderated by Anne Thompson Producers Panel – Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 pm – Moderated by Glenn Whipp Women’s Panel – Sunday, March 12 at 11:00 am – Moderated by Madelyn Hammond.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND Q&A’s
● THE POWER OF THE DOG followed by a Q&A with Jane Campion – Thursday, March 3 at 2:00 pm – FREE admission
● 10th Anniversary screening of SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK followed by a Q&A with DAVID O. RUSSELL – Date and Time to be announced – FREE ADMISSION
● More to be announced GREG NAVA RETROSPECTIVE
Also, slated are Greg Nava’s seminal immigration saga, EL NORTE, and SELENA, the riveting biopic about the famous Tejano music legend who met a tragic end at only 23, starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos. Olmos will be in attendance at the screening.
SELENA – Tuesday, March 8 at 2:00 pm – FREE admission
EL NORTE – Wednesday, March 9 at 2:00 pm – FREE admission
Nava will be present for a Q&A following each of the screenings. Edward James Olmos will also be joining the SELENA Q&A.
Free Screenings made possible with support from John C. Mithun Foundation.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MENTIONS
SBIFF Poster Designed by Acclaimed Artist Hank Pitcher
The 2022 SBIFF poster was painted by acclaimed artist and Santa Barbara resident Hank Pitcher. He remarked, “Standing on a beach, looking out to sea, or sitting in a theater looking at the screen, we project our hopes and dreams out onto those vast surfaces. It is like waiting in line to buy a ticket, then walking through the lobby into the auditorium to find a seat, or going to the shore and walking down to stand by the water. Both are about desire and discovery. I love big old movie theaters like the Riviera and the Arlington and the Granada. I have long thought of my painting as a way to stop the film at my favorite part and walk up on the stage and into the scene to look around.”
Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies – Named for renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies uses filmmaking to nurture creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. This year’s MFT Program will be offered to 2,000 4th–6th-grade students from Title I (low-income) schools throughout Santa Barbara County. This year’s program will feature critically acclaimed films and live Q&As with their directors, recorded discussions with the filmmakers and artisans from this year’s top animated films, along film education study guides. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, Patagonia, Union Bank, Bentson Foundation, and Volentine Family Foundation.
Film Studies Program – The Film Studies Program will invite 30 undergraduate film students from across the country to the Film Festival where they’ll take part in a packed curriculum that turns the festival into an interactive classroom. Participants receive priority access to the films, panels, filmmaker seminars, tributes, as well as intimate Q&As with filmmakers, talent, and other professionals. Sponsored by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin.
10–10–10 Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Mentorship and Competition – The 10-10-10 Program is made up of 20 area high school and college screenwriters and filmmakers. This year’s program includes virtual workshops, individual mentorship, and access to casting, visual effects, producing, and sound mentors. The student screenwriters and directors are paired together and guided through the process of making a film from script to screen. Other program highlights include pitching sessions, table reads, guest speaker Q&As and film talks. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Productions.
Free Filmmaker Seminars – SBIFF will again present educational seminars with filmmakers premiering at this year’s festival. These seminars will be FREE to the public and will take place on each weekday during the Festival at Casa de la Guerra in downtown Santa Barbara just off the State Street Promenade.
The ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties – This award will be presented to a dramatic film in the festival that represents an important message consistent with ADL’s efforts “to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” The winner will be announced during the Festival.
Visit sbiff.org for more information on the 2022 Program of Films!
(Press release provided by Brooke Blumberg, Sunshine Sachs)
