Photo Gallery: Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are Performers of the Year at SBIFF

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie And Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie And Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

I, Tonya stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney received the Outstanding Performers of the Year Award from Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on February 8.

“Allison and Margot bring biting humor and an emotional resonance to their real-life characters in I, Tonya,” states SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “We are proud to celebrate them and their incredible contributions to cinema.”

Allison Janney poses backstage at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Allison Janney poses backstage at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Allison Janney at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Allison Janney at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Margot Robbie, director Craig Gillespie and actress Allison Janney (I, Tonya) pose backstage at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Margot Robbie, director Craig Gillespie and actress Allison Janney (I, Tonya) pose backstage at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Margot Robbie at the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling and actress Allison Janney at the after party for the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SBIFF)

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling and actress Allison Janney at the after party for the Outstanding Performers Honoring Margot Robbie and Allison Janney Presented By Belvedere Vodka during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 8, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on February 13, 2018.

Photo Gallery: SBIFF Honors Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet Presents

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling, actors Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet pose backstage with the Santa Barbara Award at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling, actors Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet pose backstage with the Santa Barbara Award at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Golden Globe Award winner Saoirse Ronan received the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s (SBIFF) Santa Barbara Award, presented by UGG, for her critically acclaimed role in Lady Bird. Her Lady Bird co-star Timothee Chalamet (recipient of the 2018 Virtuosos Award from SBIFF) presented the award.

Actress Saoirse Ronan poses backstage with the Santa Barbara Award at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan poses backstage with the Santa Barbara Award at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Ronan has numerous film credits, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hanna, The Lovely Bones and The Way Back. She has received Academy Award nominations for her performances in Atonement and Brooklyn, and recently was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in Lady Bird.

Actress Saoirse Ronan speaks onstage at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan speaks onstage at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

“In Lady Bird, Saoirse Ronan has once again proven that she is a force of nature and one of her generation’s most exciting young talents,” states SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “She embodies her characters with a poignant accuracy and ease every time she appears on screen.”

Actress Saoirse Ronan at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan interacts with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan interacts with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan (right) poses with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan (right) poses with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan (left) poses with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actress Saoirse Ronan (left) poses with fans at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actor Timothee Chalamet speaks onstage at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Actor Timothee Chalamet speaks onstage at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 4, 2018 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on February 13, 2018.

SBIFF Fetes Allison Janney and Margot Robbie

SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, courtesy photos.

SBIFF Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, courtesy photos.

I, Tonya stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney will receive the Outstanding Performers of the Year Award from Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on Thursday, February 8, at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.

“Allison and Margot bring biting humor and an emotional resonance to their real-life characters in I, Tonya,” states SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “We are proud to celebrate them and their incredible contributions to cinema.”

Janney and Robbie have received Critics’ Choice Awards for the film and both actresses have also received nominations at the BAFTAs and SAG Awards for their respective roles, and Janney was awarded with the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. The tribute will be moderated by Scott Feinberg, Awards Columnist for The Hollywood Reporter.

Janney and Robbie will join a renowned group of Outstanding Performer Award recipients, including Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan, Steve Carell, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, Colin Firth, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet, and Charlize Theron.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sbiff.org.

Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 26, 2018.

SBIFF Santa Barbara Award Honors Saoirse Ronan

SBIFF Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan, courtesy photos.

SBIFF Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan, courtesy photos.

Golden Globe Award winner Saoirse Ronan will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s (SBIFF) Santa Barbara Award, presented by UGG, for her critically acclaimed role in Lady Bird. Given to a person in the entertainment industry who has made a great contribution to film, she will receive the award at a ceremony on Sunday, February 4, at 8 p.m., at the Arlington Theatre (1317 State St.).

Saoirse Ronan, whose first name rhymes with “inertia,” has numerous film credits, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, Hanna, The Lovely Bones and The Way Back. She has received Academy Award nominations for her performances in Atonement and Brooklyn, and recently was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in Lady Bird.

“In Lady Bird, Saoirse Ronan has once again proven that she is a force of nature and one of her generation’s most exciting young talents,” states SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. “She embodies her characters with a poignant accuracy and ease every time she appears on screen.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

Past recipients of the award include Isabelle Huppert, Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Bill Condon and Naomi Watts. For more information, visit sbiff.org.

Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 28, 2018.

Oprah and UGG Australia: A Match Made in Film Fest Heaven

Oprah Winfrey (SBIFF)

Oprah Winfrey (SBIFF)

As loyal viewers know, UGG’s iconic sheepskin boots are one of Oprah Winfrey‘s “favorite things.” The classic boots have been featured on Oprah’s “favorite things” show a record five times, so it’s not surprising that UGG Australia president, Connie Rishwain is thrilled to be up on stage at the Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night introducing Winfrey as the Santa Barbara International Film Festival‘s Montecito Award recipient.

This is UGG’s eighth year as a sponsor of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) but its first as the presenting sponsor. When asked why the company decided to make an even stronger financial commitment now, Rishwain expressed gratitude to the company’s corporate base in Santa Barbara.  “UGG has enjoyed great success, as has Deckers, and we’ve consistently put the majority of our philanthropic dollars back into our local community. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s also a privilege to be able to do it. Sponsoring the SBIFF is a way to thank not only the fans of the brand who continue to support us, but also our own Deckers family who live and work here,” she said.  “Last year was a good year for our business and it seemed like an ideal time to become the presenting sponsor of the SBIFF. ”

Connie Rishwain (courtesy photo)

UGG Australia president Connie Rishwain (courtesy photo)

She continued,  “It’s a thrill to have the opportunity to celebrate Oprah Winfrey, and I am honored to be able to thank her in public for all that she has done for UGG.  We’ve been featured on her ‘favorite things’ show five times, and we attribute part of our global success to her love of UGG.  It’s wonderful to be able to express our love and admiration for her and all that she’s done in film, but beyond that, in the way she’s helped us understand our place in this world and how to make it better.  She’s a real inspiration.”

Deckers has more than 400 employees in Santa Barbara, and most of the UGG brand team is in Goleta in the new corporate headquarters.  “We’ve just moved into our new campus headquarters (at Hollister Ave. and Los Carneros Rd.),” Rishwain said, “so it’s an exciting time for us as we bring together people from the four offices from which we were operating, and are all together again under one roof.”

When asked about the company’s local nonprofit support, Rishwain said, “Giving back to our community and causes has been a part of Deckers’ DNA since its founding. We are a lot bigger now, and support nonprofit organizations all over the world because we have Deckers and UGG employees all over the world committed to causes and programs they care about, but the ethos is the same: ‘to whom much is given, much is required.’  We can’t be a successful company without the employees who work with us, the customers who choose to wear us, and vibrant communities in which to work and live, and we take our obligations to ‘do well and do good’ very seriously. ”

The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances throughout his/her career and whose style has been a contribution to film. Previously, the award has been given to such luminaries as Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Naomi Watts and Annette Bening, who was the very first recipient in 2005. Winfrey, who appeared most recently in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, will receive the award on Wednesday, February 5 at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on February 4, 2014.