40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival

40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival
	Official 40th anniversary poster
Opening film	Jane Austen Wrecked My Life by Laura Piani
Closing film	A Missing Part by Guillaume Senez
Location	Santa Barbara, California, United States
Founded	1986
Awards	Kirk Douglas Award: Will Ferrell; ; Maltin Modern Master Award: Angelina Jolie; ;
Hosted by	Santa Barbara International Film Festival (organization)
Artistic director	Claudia Puig
Festival date	Opening: 4 February 2025 ; Closing: 15 February 2025
Website	SBIFF
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
	2026 2024

The 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is the 2025 edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place from February 4 to February 15, 2025, at Santa Barbara, California, United States.^[1] It will open with Jane Austen Wrecked My Life a French and English-language romantic comedy French film by Laura Piani.^[2]

In October November and December 2024, honorary awards were announced which are: Outstanding Performer of the Year Award for Ralph Fiennes; Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film for Will Ferrell; Maltin Modern Master Award for Angelina Jolie and Arlington Artist Of The Year Award for Timothée Chalamet.^[3]^[4] On November 19, 2024, Virtuosos Award was announced for Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Harris Dickinson (Babygirl), Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Mikey Madison (Anora) and John Magaro (September 5)^[5]

Overview

In its 40th anniversary in 2025, the festival will extend by an extra day and feature 33 world premieres and 74 United States premieres from 60 nations. 52% of the film directed by women are showcased. The event also includes tributes to the year's leading talents, panel discussions, and free educational and community outreach programs.

Opening and closing nights

The festival will open with Jane Austen Wrecked My Life a French and English-language romantic comedy, French film by Laura Piani.

It will close on February 14, with A Missing Part (Une part manquante) a Belgian-French drama film by Guillaume Senez. The award-winning films will be announced at a ceremony hosted by El Encanto, with the Jury and Filmmakers in attendance.^[2]

Events

February 5 – Maltin Modern Master Award honoring Angelina Jolie
February 6 – Outstanding Performer of the Year Award honoring Ralph Fiennes
February 8 – Variety Artisans Award, honoring Judy Becker – The Brutalist – Production Design, Kris Bowers - The Wild Robot – Original Score, Clément Ducol and Camille – Emilia Pérez – Original Song, Nick Emerson – Conclave – Editing, Jomo Fray – Nickel Boys – Cinematography, Tod A. Maitland – A Complete Unknown – Sound, Pierre-Olivier Persin – The Substance – Hair/Makeup, Paul Tazewell – Wicked – Costume Design, Erik Winquist – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – VFX
February 9 – Virtuosos Award honoring Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Harris Dickinson (Babygirl), Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Mikey Madison (Anora) and John Magaro (September 5)
February 10 – Outstanding Directors Award honorees TBA
February 11 – Arlington Artist of the Year honoring Timothée Chalamet
February 12 – American Riviera Award honoring Zoe Saldaña
February 13 – Cinema Vanguard Award honoring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce
February 14 – Montecito Award honoring Colman Domingo
Outstanding Directors of the Year Award

Jury

Source:^[6]

Estrella Araiza, a Mexican cultural manager, Managing Director, Guadalajara International Film Festival
Max Barbakow, an American filmmaker
Moses Bwayo, a Peabody and International Documentary Association (IDA) award-winning filmmaker
Andres Castillo, Managing Director and Senior Programmer, Miami International Film Festival
Jeff Christian, filmmaker
Jimmy Jean-Louis, a Haitian actor and producer
Margaret Lazarus, an American film producer and director
Jena Malone, an American actress
Gregory Nava, an American film director, producer and screenwriter
Shawn Patterson, American composer and songwriter

Official selection

Source:^[7]

Opening and closing films

Source:^[2]

English title	Original title	Director(s)	Production countrie(s)
Opening film
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life		Laura Piani	France
Closing film
A Missing Part	Une part manquante	Guillaume Senez	Belgium, France

World Premiere Feature Films

Ai Weiwei’s Turandot, Maxim Derevianko, Italy
An Arrangement, Noree Victoria, United States
Enchanted Matter: The Art of Robert Powell, Tom Piozet, United States
In the Red, Mimi Chakarova, United States
I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol, Nick Mead, Andre Relis, United States
Magic Hour, Jacqueline Christy, United States
O Horizon, Madeleine Rotzler, United States
Paddle Out, Sebi Lee, Melissa Pappageorgas,United States
Parrot Kindergarten, Amy Herdy, United States
Roads of Fire, Nathaniel Lezra, United States
Row of Life, Soraya Simi, United States
Spider & Jessie, Dan Kay, United States
Spring of the Vanishing, Andrew Glazer, United States

US Premiere Feature Films

Across the Sea (La mer au loin), Saïd Hamich Benlarbi, France, Morocco, Belgium
Among Neighbors, Yoav Potash, United States
Aontas, Damian McCann, Ireland
At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking (Ko će pokucati na vrata mog doma), Maja Novaković, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bauryna Salu, Askhat Kuchinchirekov, Kazakhstan
Can I Get a Witness?, Ann Marie Fleming, Canada
Carissa, Jason Jacobs, Devon Delmar, South Africa
Crocodile Tears (Air mata buaya), Tumpal Tampubolon, Indonesia
Democracy Under Siege, Laura Nix, Belgium, Luxembourg, USA
Fine Young Men (Hombres íntegros), Alejandro Andrade Pease, Mexico, Spain, France
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, Kevin Costner, United States^[8]
Maydegol, Sarvnaz Alambeigi, Iran, Germany, France
Olivia & the Clouds, Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat, Dominican Republic

Non Premiere Feature Films

All God’s Children, Ondi Timoner, United States
Balomanía, Sissel Morell Dargis, Denmark, Spain
Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue, Jill Campbell, United States
Beyond the Horizon, Mark Gillard, United States
The Bitter Pill, Clay Tweel, United States
Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story, Sinéad O’Shea, Ireland, United Kingdom
Bustin’ Down the Door, Jeremy Gosch, United States
Coastal, Daryl Hannah, United States
Color Book, David Fortune, United States
Coup 53, Taghi Amirani, United Kingdom, United States, Iran

2024 SBIFF Short Films

26,000 Days, Henry Behel, United States
4th Dementia, Ian Wexler, United States
Adiós, José Prats, Spain
All Things Metal, Motoki Otsuka, United States
Azi, Montana Mann, United States
On a Sunday at Eleven, Alicia K. Harris, Canada
A Swim Lesson, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, United States

Awards

Sources^[9]

Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film: Will Ferrell^[10]
Maltin Modern Master Award: Angelina Jolie^[3]
Montecito Award: Colman Domingo^[11]
Outstanding Performer(s) of the Year Award: Ralph Fiennes for Conclave^[12]
The American Riviera Award: Zoe Saldaña^[13]
Cinema Vanguard Award:^[14]
- Adrien Brody
- Guy Pearce
Arlington Award: Timothée Chalamet^[15]
Virtuosos Award:^[5]
- Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Harris Dickinson (Babygirl)
- Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez)
- Ariana Grande (Wicked)
- Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
- Mikey Madison (Anora)
- John Magaro (September 5)
Variety Artisans Award:^[16]
- Judy Becker – The Brutalist – Production Design
- Kris Bowers - The Wild Robot – Original Score
- Clément Ducol and Camille – Emilia Pérez – Original Song
- Nick Emerson – Conclave – Editing
- Jomo Fray – Nickel Boys – Cinematography
- Tod A. Maitland – A Complete Unknown – Sound
- Pierre-Olivier Persin – The Substance – Hair/Makeup
- Paul Tazewell – Wicked – Costume Design
- Erik Winquist – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – VFX

References

^ Jazz Tangcay (April 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival Announces Dates for 2025 – Film News in Brief". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2025 Program Announcement". SBIFF. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Scott Roxborough (October 16, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Angelina Jolie Tapped for Maltin Modern Master Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Pedersen, Erik (November 25, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Festival: Timothée Chalamet To Receive Arlington Artist Of The Year Award". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Emiliana Betancourt (November 19, 2024). "Selena Gomez, Kieran Culkin and Ariana Grande Among SBIFF 2025 Virtuosos Award Honorees". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Scott Feinberg (January 18, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: 33 World Premieres, 74 U.S. Premieres and Dozens of Oscar Hopefuls Set for 40th Edition". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Hammond, Pete (January 17, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Full 2025 Program, Will Partner With Direct Relief To Raise Funds For L.A. Wildfires". Deadline. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
^ Feinberg, Scott (January 22, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Fest to Host U.S. Premiere of Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
^ "40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Santa Barbara International Film Festival. December 18, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Scott Feinberg (December 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Will Ferrell, Kirk Douglas Award Honoree, Feted by Kristen Wiig and Octavia Spencer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Matt Minton (December 3, 2024). "Gotham Award Winner Colman Domingo to Be Honored With Montecito Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Bailey, Ella (November 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival to Award Outstanding Performance of the Year to Ralph Fiennes". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Betancourt, Emiliana (October 22, 2024). "Zoe Saldaña to Be Honored With the American Riviera Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 12, 2024). "'The Brutalist' Stars Adrien Brody & Guy Pearce Receiving Santa Barbara Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award". Deadline. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Feinberg, Scott (November 25, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Timothée Chalamet Tapped for Arlington Artist of the Year Award (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
^ Jazz Tangcay (January 24, 2025). "Kris Bowers, Clément Ducol and Camille, Paul Tazewell and More to Receive Variety Artisans Awards at Santa Barbara Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2025.

External links

[awards:variety-1] Jazz Tangcay (April 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival Announces Dates for 2025 – Film News in Brief". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[prog:sbiff-2] "2025 Program Announcement". SBIFF. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[angj:hr-3] Scott Roxborough (October 16, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Angelina Jolie Tapped for Maltin Modern Master Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[awards:dl-4] Pedersen, Erik (November 25, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Festival: Timothée Chalamet To Receive Arlington Artist Of The Year Award". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[va:variety-5] Emiliana Betancourt (November 19, 2024). "Selena Gomez, Kieran Culkin and Ariana Grande Among SBIFF 2025 Virtuosos Award Honorees". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[jury:hr-6] Scott Feinberg (January 18, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: 33 World Premieres, 74 U.S. Premieres and Dozens of Oscar Hopefuls Set for 40th Edition". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[prog:dl-7] Hammond, Pete (January 17, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Full 2025 Program, Will Partner With Direct Relief To Raise Funds For L.A. Wildfires". Deadline. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

[8] Feinberg, Scott (January 22, 2025). "Santa Barbara Film Fest to Host U.S. Premiere of Kevin Costner's 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2025.

[9] "40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Santa Barbara International Film Festival. December 18, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[kda:hr-10] Scott Feinberg (December 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Will Ferrell, Kirk Douglas Award Honoree, Feted by Kristen Wiig and Octavia Spencer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[ma:variety-11] Matt Minton (December 3, 2024). "Gotham Award Winner Colman Domingo to Be Honored With Montecito Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[12] Bailey, Ella (November 11, 2024). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival to Award Outstanding Performance of the Year to Ralph Fiennes". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[13] Betancourt, Emiliana (October 22, 2024). "Zoe Saldaña to Be Honored With the American Riviera Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[14] D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 12, 2024). "'The Brutalist' Stars Adrien Brody & Guy Pearce Receiving Santa Barbara Film Festival's Cinema Vanguard Award". Deadline. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[15] Feinberg, Scott (November 25, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Timothée Chalamet Tapped for Arlington Artist of the Year Award (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

[aa:variety-16] Jazz Tangcay (January 24, 2025). "Kris Bowers, Clément Ducol and Camille, Paul Tazewell and More to Receive Variety Artisans Awards at Santa Barbara Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2025.

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