SBIFF on the Horizon

It’s one of the axioms of the arts that just as the year is winding down, the Oscars and other film award races are heating up. What also warms up as the weather cools in our community is anticipation of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which presents its 41st annual event February 4-14. There’s much more to SBIFF than the Hollywood elite hoofing it up to town heralding their movie hopefuls through tributes, panels, discussions, and screenings. (Although to be fair, probably even more writers, director, and actors have already been here this fall via SBIFF’s Cinema Society, which screens previews of just about every important film followed by interviews with filmmakers.) But since the program itself won’t be made public until January 14, lavishing attention on the stars and such will have to do.

Not that they, and SBIFF, don’t deserve it. As always, SBIFF head honcho Roger Durling et al have done a marvelous job anticipating who to honor well ahead of the nominations, with Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan (Outstanding Performer Award), Sentimental Value’s Stellan Skarsgård (Montecito Award) and Jay Kelly’s Adam Sandler (Maltin Modern Master Award) all expected to garner nods for Oscars, as are six of the eight mostly up-and-coming actors slated to receive the Virtuosos Award en masse, including One Battle After Another’s Teyana Taylor, currently sitting atop Oscarologist’s GoldDerby.com’s prediction list. 

Also in the eagerly awaited arena: the debut of SBIFF’s radically refurbished McHurley Film Center (formerly Fiesta Five Theatres), featuring upgraded auditoriums, advanced sound and projection, an art gallery and other modern amenities, and a reported art house program – expected to be completed in time to serve as the main home for SBIFF 2026.  

Visit www.sbiff.org