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 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.

“Mission Blue” is Opening Night Film for SB International Film Festival, Complete Program for 2014 Revealed

film-fest-posterThis morning the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced its highly-anticipated line-up for this year.  The Festival begins  January 30 and continues through February 9 and UGG Australia is the presenting sponsor.

“The importance of keeping a sense of exploration and being aware of global issues—as represented in our choice for opening night, Mission Blue— is an overriding theme in our 29th edition of SBIFF,” said SBIFF executive director Roger Durling. “That spirit carried over into every decision and influenced all of our exciting programs as well.”

The opening night film is a world premiere documentary,  directed by Robert Nixon and Fisher Stevens. Shot over a three-year period in numerous locations around the world, Mission Blue traces legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle‘s remarkable personal journey, from her earliest memories exploring the Ocean as a young girl, to her days leading a daring undersea mission in the Virgin Islands to her experience as the chief scientist at NOAA and beyond. The film is part oceanic road trip; part biography; part action adventure story. Guiding us through the film is Stevens, whose own lifelong passion for the ocean inspired him to produce the Academy award winning film, The Cove. The film also features James Cameron and the late Mike deGruy. Opening night, sponsored by Studio 7 and The Santa Barbara Independent, will take place at the Arlington Theatre on  January 30,  with director Fisher Stevens and Sylvia Earle attending.

On Closing Night, SBIFF presents the critically acclaimed Before Trilogy: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight. The first two films will screen back-to-back at the Lobero Theatre in the afternoon. After a short break, Before Midnight will close the fest at the Arlington Theatre and will include an in-depth conversation moderated by IndieWIRE’s Anne Thompson with co-screenwriters Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater, who also directed the film.

SBIFF has become an important showcase for Academy-Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The complete list of 2014 Honorees (in date order) is as follows:

Cate Blanchett will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, moderated by longtime friend and Awards strategist at Deadline, Pete Hammond, on February 1 at the Arlington Theatre. Presented by UGG® Australia.

2014 Virtuosos Award, presented to Daniel Brühl (Rush), Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is The Warmest Color), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis), Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station), Brie Larson (Short Term 12), Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) and June Squibb (Nebraska), in recognition of the year’s emerging film artists. The evening will be moderated by Dave Karger, Chief Correspondent and host of “The Frontrunners” on Fandango on February 4 at the Arlington Theatre. Sponsored by Travel + Leisure.

Oprah Winfrey will receive the Montecito Award, moderated by Los Angeles Times Sr. Film Reporter John Horn on February 5 at the Arlington Theatre. Presented by UGG® Australia.

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award, moderated by Todd McCarthy, film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, on February 6 at the Arlington Theatre. Sponsored by lynda.com.

Robert Redford will receive the American Riviera Award on February 7, moderated by longtime SBIFF friend and film historian Leonard Maltin at the Arlington Theatre. Sponsored by Sunstone Vineyards & Winery,

Emma Thompson will receive the esteemed Modern Master Award, moderated by Leonard Maltin on February 8 at the Arlington Theatre. Sponsored by Adobe.

The panel series, presented by Cox Communications, kicks off at 11 a.m. on February 1, with the “Movers & Shakers” panel, bringing together top producers to discuss their craft, moderated by Los Angeles Times film writer, John Horn, and sponsored by Integrated Media Technologies, Inc. At 2 p.m., the next panel is composed of some of the most creative women working in film today entitled “Creative Forces: Women in the Biz,” moderated by Madelyn Hammond, President, Madelyn Hammond & Assoc., and Former Chief Marketing Officer for Variety and sponsored by Fielding Graduate University Worldwide Network for Gender Empowerment.

The panels continue during the Fest’s second weekend on February 8 at 11 a.m., with the ever-popular “It Starts With the Script,” screenwriters panel moderated by indieWIRE’s Anne Thompson. At 2:00 p.m. is the “Directors on Directing” panel, sponsored by Brooks Institute. At 4 p.m., SBIFF will present a new panel, the VFX Technology Panel, which will feature the latest advancements in Visual Effects, sponsored by Adobe and moderated by Geoff Boucher, journalist and author.

All panels take place at the Lobero Theatre. Panelists will be announced soon.

A new addition this year is a series of educational seminars that will be free to the public and will take place in the UGG Pavilion each day throughout the festival at lunchtime. Subjects include: REPRESENTING WOMEN OF COLOR, BREAKING INTO THE INDUSTRY, COVERING A FILM FESTIVAL, ACQUISITIONS, LOCAL FILMMAKERS, SCREEN CUISINE and SOCIAL JUSTICE. Check the festival website for updates.

Another new addition to the Festival is Super Silent Sunday:  on Super Bowl Sunday, SBIFF will present–FOR FREE– two classic silent films at the Arlington Theatre, Wings, directed by William A. Wellman and starring Clara Bow, and The Thief of Bagdad, directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Douglas Fairbanks. Live accompaniment will be provided by Adam Aceto on the theatre’s Wonder Morton pipe organ, which is one of only five in existence.

Another highlight for locals is Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, the brainchild of renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, whose passion for exploring and sharing those adventures with audiences through filmmaking was the inspiration for this fascinating and thought-provoking program. The goal of the program, which is offered to 4,000 5th and 6th grade students from throughout Santa Barbara County, is to use the art of filmmaking to stimulate creative, confident and culturally aware thinkers and empower students and teachers with a creative approach to education. This year SBIFF will present Disney’s hit animated comedy, Frozen, featuring director Jennifer Lee, who will participate in a Q&A following the screenings with the students and talk about the craft of animated filmmaking. This annual free event, which takes place February 6 at the Arlington Theatre, is co-sponsored by The Towbes Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Macy’s and Rotary Club of Goleta.

With Santa Barbara’s lush wine country serving as inspiration, the 2014 poster was once again created by Barbara Boros.

SBIFF  brings 156 films from around the world together to form an incredibly unique and diverse festival experience. The following  is the list of World and US Premiere films, followed by the list of titles by sidebar category. For the complete list of films, along with their descriptions and a preliminary screening schedule, visit sbiff.org. Please note that this is subject to change.

WORLD PREMIERES

A Life Outside, USA

Directed by Catherine Brabec

Featuring: Greg Mesanko, Chris Mesanko, Kevin Casey, Jim Purpuri, Richard Luthringer, and Bucky Walters

A documentary following the six surfers who pioneered the 1960’s surf break at the New Jersey Casino Pier.

 

A Year in Champagne, USA

Directed by David Kennard

A detailed portrait of winemakers and their families reveals some of the most intimate secrets behind creating the legendary bubbly beverage.

 

Barefoot, USA

Directed by Andrew Fleming

Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Scott Speedman, Brittany Alger

An upper-class, hard-luck gambler invites a shoeless eccentric to his brother’s lavish southern style wedding to prove he’s changed his ways.

BFFs, USA

Directed by Andrew Putschoegi

Cast: Andrea Grano, Tara Karsian

Looking for a few days of vacation and amusement, two best friends pretend to be lovers while attending a couple’s weekend workshop.

 

Bottled Up: The Battle Over Dublin Dr. Pepper, USA

Directed by Drew Rist

This documentary details the events and history leading up to the demise of Dublin Dr. Pepper, as well as the public outcry that continues to this day.

 

Chu and Blossom, USA

Directed by Charles Chu, Gavin Kelly

Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Caitlin Stasey, Alan Cumming

A coming of age comedy centers on an unlikely brotherhood between a pensive, 6-foot-8 Korean exchange student, and a performance artist, both trapped together in small Southern town.

 

Driven, USA

Directed by Ben Pitterie, Brian Hall

Explore the fascinating and obscure world of marathon swimming as three swimmers put everything on the line chasing a dream to swim up to 20 miles across the Santa Barbara Channel.

 

Falcon Song, USA

Directed by Jason Brown

Cast: Gabriel Sunday, James Storm, Martin Kove, Rainey Qualley

A whimsical portrait of a guitar-playing drifter who helps a rancher’s granddaughter find her true calling

 

Gurukulam, Canada/USA

Directed by Jillian Elizabeth

A group of students and their teacher confront fundamental questions about the nature of reality and self-identity at a remote forest ashram in southern India.

 

Invitation to Dance, USA

Directed by Simi Linton and Christian von Tippelskirch

An activist, an avant-garde of disabled dancers, and a quest: equality, justice, and a place on the dance floor.

 

Late Spring, South Korea – World Premiere

Directed by Keun-Hyun Cho

In post war Korea, A genius sculptor meets an amateur model

 

The Last One, USA

Directed by Nadine C. Licostie

This feature-length documentary traces the history of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the role it continues to play as a response to the disease itself.

 

Lutah Maria Riggs, USA

Directed by Kum-Kum Bhavnani

A documentary about Lutah Maria Riggs, an American architect who worked for several decades in the Southern California region

 

Menthol, USA

Directed by Micah Van Hove

Cast: Jacob King, James Wilson, Johnny Wactor, Luke Eberl

When four friends reunite for a night of fun in their hometown, a crisis forces them to confront the consequences of their lifestyles.

 

Mission Blue, USA

Directed by Robert Nixon and Fisher Stevens

Cast: Sylvia Earle, James Cameron, Mike deGruy,

Legendary oceanographer and TED prize winner Dr. Sylvia Earle is on a mission to save our oceans. The documentary Mission Blue is the story of Sylvia’s life as witness to the changes to the sea that threaten our planet, and how we still have a chance to repair much of the damage – if we act now.

 

Mount Joy, USA

Directed by Jack Lewars

Cast: Kate Hodge, Lou Martini Jr., Matthew Watson

A lead singer places his band’s national bar tour on hold until he gets answers from the girl who broke his heart, but soon discovers she harbors a secret that could change everything.

 

Night Has Settled, USA

Directed by Steve Clark

Cast: Spencer List, Pilar López de Ayala, Adriana Barraza

In 1983 New York City, a thirteen-year-old boy well-poised to enter the precocious teenage world of sex, vodka, and the possibilities of love, is traumatized by an encounter with his housekeeper.

 

Noble, United Kingdom

Directed by Stephen Bradley

Cast: Dierdre O’Kane, Sarah Greene, Brendan Coyle, Liam Cunningham, Nhu Quynh Nguyen, Ruth Negga

In 1989 Vietnam, a funny, feisty and courageous woman overcomes the difficulties of her childhood in Ireland to discover her destiny on the streets of Saigon.

 

Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo, USA

Directed by Matt Livadary

Roping and riding and busting stereotypes, the dauntless members of the International Gay Rodeo Association face constant obstacles in their quest to qualify for the World Gay Rodeo Finals.

 

Roaming Wild, USA

Directed by Sylvia Johnson

Featuring: Samantha Layne (voice)

An activist, a cowboy and a mountain man search for solutions to protect life and land in this modern day Western about America’s wild horses and the federal government’s controversial roundups.

 

Sam, Switzerland

Directed by Elena Hazanov

Cast: Frédéric Landenberg, Sacha Guerreiro, Séverine Bujard, Anna Pieri

After living with his mother since his parents’ divorce, seven-year-old Sam is forced to move in with his father, a struggling writer with no source of inspiration.

 

 

The Village of Peace, Israel/USA

Directed by Nicholas Philipides, Ben Schuder

The stories of four African Hebrew Israelites illuminate a community whose daily lifestyle includes polygamy, health, nutrition, education and spiritual enlightenment.

 

Warren, USA

Directed by Alex Beh

Cast: John Heard, Jean Smart, Austin Stowell, Sarah Habel, Joe Nunez

After giving up on making it in the Chicago improv scene, a young comedian fatefully reconnects with the former love of his life one fall night while working at a coffee shop in his hometown.

 

U.S. PREMIERES

 

African Metropolis, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya

A complication of short films directed by Jim Chuchu, Ahmed Ghoneimy, Folasakin Iwajomo, Marie KA, Philippe Lacôte, Vincent Moloi

A compilation of six short fiction films, set in six major African cities.

 

A la Bizkaina, Spain

Directed by Aritz Galarza

The mystery of the sauce carrying the name of Bizkaia gives us a hint of its origin and ingredients.

 

Adria Blues, Slovenia/Croatia/Bosnia/Herzegovina

Directed by Miroslav Mandič

Cast: Senad Bašić, Mojca Funkl, Peter Musevski

Paralyzed by depression, an aging former rock star from Bosnia is pushed by his wife to reengage with life.

 

Algunas Chicas, Argentina

Directed by Santiago Palavecino

Cast: Cecilia Rainero, Agostina López, Agustina Muñoz

A woman traveling to a friend’s house to escape her marital crisis is soon consumed by the secrets of those around her.

 

The Amazing Catfish, Mexico

Directed by Claudia Sainte-Luce

Cast: Ximena Ayala, Lisa Owen, Sonia Franco, Wendy Guillén

A lonely young woman becomes a live-in caregiver for an ailing but indomitable matriarch and her brood of kids.

 

Bauyr (Little Brother), Kazakhstan

Directed by Serik Aprymov

Cast: Almat Galym, Alisher Aprymov, Murat Omarov, Dokhdurbek Kydyraliyev

A nine year old living on his own is revisited by his brother, and believes his life will change with his arrival.

 

Bella Vita, USA/Italy

Directed by Jason Baffa

Cast: Chris Del Moro, Dave Rastovich, Lauren Lyndsey Hill, Conner Coffin, Parker Coffin

The surf of the Italian coast carries surfer, artist, and environmentalist Chris Del Moro on a pilgrimage back to his ancestral homeland of Italy.

BELLA VITA FILM from Bella Vita Film on Vimeo.

Cannibal (Caníbal), Spain/Romania/Russia/France

Directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca

Cast: Antonio de la Torre, Olimpia Melinte

A mild-mannered tailor, who is a secret cannibal, unexpectedly finds himself falling in love with his latest prospective victim.

 

César’s Grill, Ecuador/Germany/Switzerland

Directed by Dario Aguirre

Cast: Dario Aguirre, César Aguirre

German resident, filmmaker, and vegetarian, Dario Aguirre is called home to Ecuador to help save his meat-loving father’s grill from bankruptcy.

 

Clownwise, Czech Republic/Luxembourg/Finland

Directed by Viktor Taus

Cast: Julie Ferrier, Kati Outinen, Didier Flamand

After thirty years of separation, three clowns reunite to restage the famous act that launched their careers — while also attempting to forgive one another for the fight that tore them apart.

 

Do You Believe in Love?, Israel

Directed by Dani Wasserman

Tova, a unique matchmaker with muscular dystrophy, tirelessly strives to find love for everyone around her.

 

Found & Lost, China

Directed by Xiao Wei Zhu

Cast: Guo Zhu Zhang, Yu Meng Jia

Chronicles the pilgrimage of an orphaned woman in China between 1949 to 1984.

 

The Gambler (Losejas), Lithuania/Latvia

Directed by Ignas Jonynas

Cast: Vytautas Kaniusonis, Oona Mekas, Rimas Blockis

A paramedic, passionate about gambling, is struck by an idea to create an illegal game related to his profession.

 

God’s Slave (Esclavo de Dios), Uruguay/Venezuela/Argentina

Directed by Joel Novoa

Cast: Mohammed Alkhaldi, Daniela Alvarado, Devorah Lynne Dishington

Inspired by true events, this is the story of two extremists, one Islamic and the other Jewish, who cross paths while on opposing sides of the 1994 Buenos Aires AMIA bombings.

 

Eastern Boys, France

Directed by Robin Campillo

Cast: Olivier Rabourdin, Kirill Emelyanov, Daniil Vorobyov

A middle-aged Frenchman solicits a young foreigner and finds himself entangled with a group of young Eastern European hustlers.

 

If I Close My Eyes I’m Not Here (Se chiudo gli occhi non sono più qui), Italy

Directed by Vittorio Moroni

Cast: Mark Manaloto, Elena Arvigo, Beppe Fiorello, Giorgio Colangeli

A teenage boy, tormented into a submissive life, is visited and mentored by a mysterious old friend of his deceased father.

 

The Japanese Dog, Romania

Directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu

Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Serban Pavlu, Laurentiu Lazar, Kana Hashimoto, Toma Hashimoto

When a flood kills his wife and destroys his house, a man attempts to reconnect with his son who arrives from Japan with his wife and child.

 

Metalhead, Iceland

Directed by Ragnar Bragason

Cast: Þorbjörg Helga Þorgilsdóttir, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir

A grief-stricken young woman adopts the persona and decibel-blasting predilections of her deceased brother

October November (Oktober November), Austria

Directed by Götz Spielmann

Cast: Nora von Waldstätten, Ursula Strauss, Peter Simonischek, Sebastian Koch, Johannes Zeiler, Andreas Ressl

A family reunion at a mountainside inn lays bare old wounds and reveals long-held secrets.

 

The Old, the Young and the Sea, Austria/Spain

Directed by Mario Hainzl

A documentary portrait about the incredible individuals who inhabit, surf, travel and protect the European shores.

 

One Way Ticket to the Moon (Bilet na księżyc), Poland

Directed by Jacek Bromski

Cast: Anna Przybylska, Filip Pawlak, Mateusz Kościukiewicz

Two brothers travel across Poland, a adventure sparked by the older to prepare his younger brother to serve in the Polish army.

 

Paulette, France

Directed by Jérôme Enrico

Cast: Bernadette Lafont, Carmen Maura, Dominique Lavanant

Paulette lives alone in a housing project in the Paris suburbs. With her meager pension, she can no longer make ends meet and becomes and resorts to selling drugs.

 

Revival, Czech Republic

Directed by Alice Nellis

Cast: Bolek Polivka, Miroslav Krobot, Karel Hermanek, Marian Geisberg, Zuzana Budovska

Forty years after separating, four friends decide to reunite their rock band through a revival that takes an unexpected turn.

 

Saudade, Uruguay

Directed by Juan Carlos Donoso Gomez

Cast: Francisco Baquerizo Racines, Jessica Barahona de Prada, Joaquin Davila Romoleroux

Set amidst the backdrop of the Ecuadorian economic crisis of 1999, ‘Saudade’ tackles notions of economic dislocation, friendship, family and young love.

 

Shadow in Baghdad, Israel

Directed by Duki Dror

Featuring: Linda Abdul Aziz

A young journalist from Baghdad connects with a Jewish woman who escaped to Iraq to discover what happened to her missing father.

 

Solo, Venezuela

Directed by José Ramón Novoa

Cast: Samantha Dagnino, Laureano Olivares

A story of one man’s quest for redemption

 

Triptych (Triptyque), Canada

Directed by Robert Lepage, Pedro Pires

Cast: Frédérike Bédard, Lise Castonguay, Hans Piesbergen

The lives of three characters intersect in the sublime narrative geometry of this haunting adaptation of Robert Lepage’s celebrated theatre work Lipsynch.

 

Under the Starry Sky, France/Senegal

Directed by Dyana Gaye

Cast: Marème Demba Ly, Ralph Amoussou, Souleymane Seye N’Diaye, Maya Sansa, Babacar M’Baye Fall, Sokhna Niang, Mata Gabin

Delving into the shadowy world of undocumented travel, this transcontinental drama charts the interconnected destinies of three far-flung sojourners.

 

uwantme2killhim?, United Kingdom

Directed by Andrew Douglas

Cast: Jamie Blackley, Toby Regbo, Jaime Winstone, Mark Womack, Joanne Froggatt

A teenage boy descends into the dangerous world of the internet and the harrowing consequences of his actions.

 

Violet, Spain

Directed by Luiso Berdejo

Cast: Junio Valverde, Leticia Dolera, Miriam Giovanelli, Ricardo Darín, Carlos Bardem

A Spanish boy living in Santa Monica falls for a girl he sees in an old Polaroid. He decides to look for her, despite having no clue of who she is or how long ago the photo was taken.

 

Wounded (La herida), Spain

Directed by Fernando Franco

Cast: Marian Alvarez, Rosana Pastor, Manolo Solo, Andres Gertrudix, Ramon Agirre, Ramon Barea

An ambulance driver struggles with outbreaks of self-destructive behavior, incapable of finding stability and happiness.

 

 

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

 

INDEPENDENT FEATURES

Competition

 

1982, USA

Directed by Tommy Oliver

Cast: Wayne Brady, Hill Harper, Sharon Leal, Ruby Dee, Bokeem Woodbine, Troi Zee, Lala Anthony, Quinton Aaron

 

BFFs, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Andrew Putschoegi

Cast: Andrea Grano, Tara Karsian

 

Barefoot, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Andrew Flemming

Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Scott Speedman, Brittany Alger

 

Chu and Blossom, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Charles Chu, Gavin Kelly

Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Caitlin Stasey, Alan Cumming

 

Mount Joy, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Jack Lewars

Cast: Kate Hodge, Lou Martini Jr., Matthew Watson

 

Night Has Settled, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Steve Clark

Cast: Spencer List, Pilar López de Ayala, Adriana Barraza

 

Noble, United Kingdom – World Premiere

Directed by Stephen Bradley

Cast: Dierdre O’Kane, Sarah Greene, Brendan Coyle, Liam Cunningham, Nhu Quynh Nguyen, Ruth Negga

 

Warren, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Alex Beh

Cast: John Heard, Jean Smart, Austin Stowell, Sarah Habel, Joe Nunez

 

 

INTERNATIONAL FEATURES

Competition

 

Eastern Boys, France – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Robin Campillo

Cast: Olivier Rabourdin, Kirill Emelyanov, Daniil Vorobyov

 

Found & Lost, China – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Xiao Wei Zhu

Cast: Guo Zhu Zhang, Yu Meng Jia

 

For A Woman (Pour une femme), France

Directed by Diane Kurys

Cast: Benoit Magimel, Melanie Thierry, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Sylvie Testud, Denis Podalydes, Julie Ferrier, Clotilde Hesme, Clement Sibony

 

If I Close My Eyes I’m Not Here (Se chiudo gli occhi non sono più qui), Italy – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Vittorio Moroni

Cast: Mark Manaloto, Elena Arvigo, Beppe Fiorello, Giorgio Colangeli

 

The Major, Russia

Directed by Yuri Bykov

Cast: Yuri Bykov, Denis Shvedov, Irina Nizina, Ilya Isaev

 

Metalhead, Iceland – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Ragnar Bragason

Cast: Þorbjörg Helga Þorgilsdóttir, Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir

 

October November (Oktober November), Austria – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Götz Spielmann

Cast: Nora von Waldstätten, Ursula Strauss, Peter Simonischek, Sebastian Koch, Johannes Zeiler, Andreas Ressl

 

Sam, Switzerland – World Premiere

Directed by Elena Hazanov

Cast: Frédéric Landenberg, Sacha Guerreiro, Séverine Bujard, Anna Pieri

 

Triptych (Triptyque), Canada – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Robert Lepage, Pedro Pires

Cast: Frédérike Bédard, Lise Castonguay, Hans Piesbergen

 

Under the Starry Sky, France/Senegal – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Dyana Gaye

Cast: Marème Demba Ly, Ralph Amoussou, Souleymane Seye N’Diaye, Maya Sansa, Babacar M’Baye Fall, Sokhna Niang, Mata Gabin

 

Victor Young Perez, France/Israel/Bulgaria

Directed by Jacques Ouaniche

Cast: Brahim Asloum, Steve Suissa, Isabelle Orsini, Patrick Bouchitey

 

 

EASTERN BLOC FEATURES

Competition

 

Adria Blues, Slovenia/Croatia/Bosnia/Herzegovina – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Miroslav Mandic

Cast: Senad Bašić, Mojca Funkl, Peter Musevski

 

Bauyr (Little Brother), Kazakhstan – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Serik Aprymov

Cast: Almat Galym, Alisher Aprymov, Murat Omarov, Dokhdurbek Kydyraliyev

 

Clownwise, Czech Republic/Luxembourg/Finland – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Viktor Taus

Cast: Julie Ferrier, Kati Outinen, Didier Flamand

 

The Gambler (Losejas), Lithuania/Latvia – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Ignas Jonynas

Cast: Vytautas Kaniusonis, Oona Mekas, Rimas Blockis

 

The Japanese Dog, Romania – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu

Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Serban Pavlu, Laurentiu Lazar, Kana Hashimoto, Toma Hashimoto

 

One Way Ticket to the Moon (Bilet na księżyc), Poland – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jacek Bromski

Cast: Fillip Pawlak, Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Anna Przybylska

 

Revival, Czech Republic – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Alice Nellis

Cast: Bolek Polivka, Miroslav Krobot, Karel Hermanek, Marian Geisberg, Zuzana Budovska

 

 

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Competition

 

A la Bizkaina, Spain – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Aritz Galarza

 

Bella Vita, USA/Italy – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jason Baffa

Cast: Chris Del Moro, Dave Rastovich, Lauren Lyndsey Hill, Conner Coffin, Parker Coffin

 

Burt’s Buzz, Canada – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jody Shapiro

Cast: Burt Shavitz, Trevor Folsom

 

César’s Grill, Ecuador/Germany/Switzerland – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Dario Aguirre

Cast: Dario Aguirre, César Aguirre

 

Do You Believe in Love?, Israel – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Daniel Wasserman

 

Gurukulam, Canada/USA – World Premiere

Directed by Jillian Elizabeth

 

The Last Black Sea Pirates, Bulgaria

Directed by Svetoslav Stoyanov

 

On A River in Ireland, Ireland

Directed by Colin Stafford-Johnson

Cast: Colin Stafford-Johnson

 

Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Matt Livadary

 

The Village of Peace, Israel/USA – World Premiere

Directed by Nicholas Philipides, Ben Schuder

 

 

SPANISH/LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA

Competition

 

Algunas chicas (Some Girls), Argentina – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Santiago Palavecino

Cast: Cecilia Rainero, Agostina López, Agustina Muñoz

 

The Amazing Catfish (Los insólitos peces gato), Mexico – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Claudia Sainte-Luce

Cast: Ximena Ayala, Lisa Owen, Sonia Franco, Wendy Guillén

 

Cannibal (Caníbal), Spain/Romania/Russia/France – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca

Cast: Antonio de la Torre, Olimpia Melinte

 

God’s Slave (Esclavo de dios), Uruguay/Venezuela/Argentina – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Joel Novoa

Cast: Mohammed Alkhaldi, Daniela Alvarado, Devorah Lynne Dishington

 

Saudade, Uruguay – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Juan Carlos Donoso Gomez

Cast: Francisco Baquerizo Racines, Jessica Barahona de Prada, Joaquin Davila Romoleroux

 

Solo, Venezuela – U.S. Premiere

Directed by José Ramón Novoa

Cast: Samantha Dagnino, Laureano Olivares

 

Sombras de azul (Shades of Blue), Cuba

Directed by Kelly Daniela Norris

Cast: Seedne Bujaidar, Yasmani Guerrero, Charlotta Mohlin, Lieter Ledesma

 

Violet, Spain – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Luiso Berdejo

Cast: Junio Valverde, Leticia Dolera, Miriam Giovanelli, Ricardo Darín, Carlos Bardem

 

Wounded (La herida), Spain – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Fernando Franco

Cast: Marian Alvarez, Rosana Pastor, Manolo Solo, Andres Gertrudix, Ramon Agirre, Ramon Barea

 

 

FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA SOCIAL JUSTICE

Competition

 

Bottled Up: The Battle Over Dublin Dr. Pepper, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Drew Rist

 

Hue: A Matter of Colour, Canada – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Vic Sarin

 

Invitation to Dance, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Christian von Tippelskirch

 

The Last One, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Nadine C. Licostie

 

The Passage, Panama

Directed by Alexander Douglas

 

Roaming Wild, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Sylvia Johnson

Featuring: Samantha Layne (voice)

 

Shadow in Baghdad, Israel/France/UK/Jordan/Iraq – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Duki Dror

 

Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People, USA Directed by Thomas Allen Harris

 

NON–COMPETITION FILMS

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

 

15 Years + 1 Day (15 años y un dia), Spain

Directed by Gracia Querejeta

Cast: Maribel Verdú, Tito Valverde, Arón Piper, Belén López

 

African Metropolis, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya – U.S. Premiere

A complication of short films directed by Jim Chuchu, Ahmed Ghoneimy, Folasakin Iwajomo, Marie KA, Philippe Lacôte, Vincent Moloi

 

Child’s Pose (Pozitia copilului), Romania

Directed by Calin Peter Netzer

Cast: Luminita Gheorghiu, Bogdan Dumitrache, Natasa Raab

 

Code Black, USA

Directed by Ryan McGarry

Cast: Ryan McGarry, Danny Cheng, Jamie Eng, Dave Pomeranz, Andrew Eads

 

Gabrielle, Canada

Directed by Louise Archambault

Cast: Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, Alexandre Landry, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin

 

Heart of a Lion, Finland/Sweden

Directed by Dome Karukoski

Cast: Peter Franzén, Laura Birn, Jasper Pääkkönen, Yusufa Sidibeh

 

La Juala de Oro (The Golden Dream), Guatemala/Spain/Mexico

Directed by Diego Quemada-Díez

Cast: Brandon López, Rodolfo Domínguez, Karen Martínez

 

My Sweet Pepper Land, Kurdistan/France/Germany

Directed by Hinder Saleem

Cast: Korkmaz Arslan, Golshifteh Farahani, Suat Usta

 

The Notebook, Hungary/Germany/Austria/France

Directed by János Szász

Cast: András Gyémánt, László Gyémánt, Piroska Molnár, Ulrich Thomsen, Ulrich Matthes

 

Of Horses and Men (Hross í oss), Iceland/Germany

Directed by Benedikt Erlingsson

Cast: Ingvar Eggert Sigurõsson

 

One Chance, United Kingdom

Directed by David Frankel

Cast: James Corden, Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters, Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney

 

We Are the Best! (Vi är bäst!). Sweden/Denmark

Directed by Lukas Moodysson

Cast: Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin, Liv LeMoyne

 

PAN ASIA

 

Cold Eyes, South Korea

Directed by Cho Ui-seok, Kim Byung-seo

Cast: Seol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Jun-ho, Jin Gyeong

 

Found & Lost, China – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Xiao Wei Zhu

Cast: Guo Zhu Zhang, Yu Meng Jia

 

Ilo ilo, Singapore

Directed by Anthony Chen

Cast: Koh Jia Ler, Angeli Bayani, Tian Wen Chen, Yann Yann Yeo

 

Late Spring, South Korea – World Premiere,

Directed by Keun-Hyun Cho

In post war Korea, A genius sculptor meets an amateur model

 

The Missing Picture (L’image manquante), Cambodia/France

Directed by Rithy Panh

Cast: Randal Douc (voice)

 

Siddharth, Canada/India

Directed by Richie Mehta

Cast: Rajesh Tailang, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Anurag Arora, Geeta Agrawal Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah

 

Transit, Philippines

Directed by Hannah Espia

Cast: Jasmine Curtis Smith, Ping Medina, Irma Adlawan, Mercedes Cabral, and Marc Justine Alvarez

 

Unforgiven (Yurusarezaru mono), Japan

Directed by Lee Sang-il

Cast: Ken Watanabe, Akira Emoto, Koichi Sato

 

 

KOLNOA

 

Bethlehem, Israel

Directed by Yuval Adler

Cast: Shadi Mar’I, Tsahi Halevy, Hitham Omari, Tarek Copti, Michal Shtemler, Hisham Suliman, George Iskandar, Yossi Eini, Efrat Shnap, Karem Shakur, Ibrahim Sakala

 

Cupcakes, Israel

Directed by Eytan Fox

Cast: Anat Waxman, Keren Berger, Ofer Shechter, Efrat Dor

 

Do You Believe in Love?, Israel – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Daniel Wasserman

 

Shadow in Baghdad, Israel/France/UK/Jordan/Iraq – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Duki Dror

 

Transit, Philippines

Directed by Hannah Espia

Cast: Jasmine Curtis Smith, Ping Medina, Irma Adlawan, Mercedes Cabral, and Marc Justine Alvarez

 

A Universal Language, Canada

Directed by Igal Hecht

 

The Village of Peace, Israel/USA – World Premiere

Directed by Nicholas Philipides, Ben Schuder

 

 

SCREEN CUISINE

 

A la Bizkaina, Spain – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Aritz Galarza

 

A Year in Champagne, USA – World Premiere

Directed by David Kennard

 

Bottled Up: The Battle Over Dublin Dr Pepper, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Drew Rist

Cast: Josh Gobin (voice)

 

César’s Grill, Ecuador/Germany/Switzerland – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Dario Aguirre

Cast: Dario Aguirre, César Aguirre

 

Dog Days, Canada/USA

Directed by Laura Waters Hinson, Kasey Kirby

Cast: Coite Manuel, Siyone, Deane

 

Le Chef (Comme un chef), France/Spain

Directed by Daniel Cohen

Cast: Jean Reno, Michaël Youn, Raphaelle Agogue, James Gerard

 

Make Hummus Not War, Australia

Directed by Trevor Graham

 

Paulette, France – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jérôme Enrico

Cast: Bernadette Lafont, Carmen Maura, Dominique Lavanant

 

 

THE WORLD LAUGHS

 

The Grand Seduction, Canada

Directed by Don McKeller

Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch, Liane Balaban

 

Le Chef (Comme un chef), France/Spain

Directed by Daniel Cohen

Cast: Jean Reno, Michaël Youn, Raphaelle Agogue, James Gerard

 

Paulette, France – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jérôme Enrico

Cast: Bernadette Lafont, Carmen Maura, Dominique Lavanant

 

The Priest’s Children (Svećenikova djeca), Croatia

Directed by Vinko Brešan

Cast: Kresimir Mikic, Niksa Butijer, Marija Skaricic, Drazen Kühn, Jadranka Dokic

 

Revival, Czech Republic – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Alice Nellis

Cast: Bolek Polivka, Miroslav Krobot, Karel Hermanek, Marian Geisberg, Zuzana Budovska

 

A Universal Language, Canada

Directed by Igal Hecht

 

When Jews Were Funny, Canada

Directed by Alan Zweig

Cast: Howie Mandel, Shelley Berman, Norm Crosby, Shecky Greene, Jack Carter, David Steinberg, Andy Kindler, Elon Gold, Gilbert Gottfreid, David Brenner, Bob Einstein, Judy Gold, Marc Maron

 

 

TO THE MAXXX

 

Bella Vita, Italy/USA – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Jason Baffa

Cast: Chris Del Moro, Dave Rastovich, Lauren Lyndsey Hill, Conner Coffin, Parker Coffin

 

Driven, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Ben Pitterie, Brian Hall

 

The Old, the Young and the Sea, Austria/Spain/Portugal/France – U.S. Premiere

Directed by Mario Hainzl

 

A Life Outside, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Catherine Brabec

Cast: Greg Mesanko, Chris Mesanko, Kevin Casey, Jim Purpuri, Richard Luthringer, and Bucky Walters

 

 

APPLEBOX

 

Frozen, USA

Directed by Chuck Buck, Jennifer Lee

Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff

 

Despicable Me 2, USA

Directed by Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand

 

Monsters University, USA

Directed by Dan Scanlon

Cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi

 

 

SANTA BARBARA FEATURES

 

Lutah Maria Riggs, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Kum-Kum Bhavnani

 

BridgeWalkers, USA

Directed by Kara Rhodes

Cast: Irene Bedard (voice)

 

Falcon Song, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Jason Brown

Cast: Gabriel Sunday, James Storm, Martin Kove, Rainey Qualley

 

Menthol, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Micah Van Hove

Cast: Jacob King, Luke Eberl

 

Orenthal: The Musical, USA

Directed by Jeff Rosenberg

Cast: Jordan Kenneth Kamp, Larisa Oleynik, Malcolm Barrett

 

Selma Rubin and Community of Life, USA

Directed by Beezhan Tulu

Featuring: Selma Rubin

 

Tough Bond, USA

Directed by Austin Peck

 

 

SHORTS PROGRAMS

 

ANIMATED SHORTS

 

Bakerman & The Bunnymen, USA

Directed by Scout Raskin

Cast: Andrew Racho, Scout Raskin

 

Drunker Than a Skunk, USA

Directed by Bill Plympton

Cast: Walt Curtis

 

Flamingo, Venezuela

Directed by Carl Zitelmann

 

The Gravedigger’s Tale, United Kingdom

Directed by Min Young Oh

Cast: Duncan Roberts

 

The House with No Doors, United Kingdom

Directed by Oana Nechifor

 

Me + Her, USA

Directed by Joseph Oxford

 

Sebastian, Russian Federation/USA

Directed by Vlad Marsavin

Cast: Alex Kharlamov, Arina Yagovkina, Elena Yagovkina, Milana Albakova

 

 

Tome of the Unknown, USA

Directed by Patrick McHale

Cast: Elijah Wood, Warren Burton, Natasha Leggero, C.W. Stoneking

 

Woody, Australia

Directed by Stuart Bowen

 

 

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

 

Cowtown Keeylocko, USA

Directed by Ira Chute

Cast: Edward Keeylocko

 

Do Not Duplicate, USA

Directed by Mary Anne Rothberg

 

The Kids of 5114, USA

Directed by Scott Brown

 

Real Change, USA

Directed by Adam Becker

 

Running Blind, USA

Directed by Ryan Suffern

Featuring: E.J. Scott

 

DRAMATIC SHORTS

 

H.O.G.’s Tooth, USA

Directed by Loren F. Gilley

Cast: Grant Alan Ouzts, Jordan Butcher, Kendra Thomas

 

Little Secret, Czech Republic

Directed by Martin Krejci

Cast: Adam Misik, Klara Cibulkova, Jenovefa Bokova

 

Looms, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Funk Brothers

Cast: Timothy Murphy, Ellen Soderberg (voice)

 

My Father’s Truck, Germany

Directed by Mauricio Osaki

Cast: Trung Anh, Ly Phan, Mai Vy

 

They Came at Night, Congo/USA – World Premiere

Directed by Andrew Ellis

Cast: Godefroid Maka, Innocent Mbula, Pascal Kunbawo

 

SCREEN CUISINE SHORTS

 

Mabel, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Pia Clemente

Featuring Mabel Sawhill

 

People & Plates, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Miguel Calayan

Cast: Christian Navarro

 

Sausage, United Kingdom

Directed by Robert Grieves

 

Sikh Formaggio, Italy/USA

Directed by Devyn Bisson, Katie Wise, Dan Duran

 

The Story of an Egg, USA

Directed by Douglas Gayeton

Cast: Alexis Koefoed, David Evans, Nancy Gleason

 

The Trouble with Bread, USA

Directed by Maggie Beidelman

 

 

SHORT FICTION

 

Across Grace Ally, USA

Directed by Ralph Macchio

Cast: Ben Hyland, Karina Smirnoff, Marsha Mason

 

Bunion, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Jessica Sanders

Cast: Avi Rothman, Alia Shawkat, Michaela Watkins, Misty Thomas, Steve Ireland

 

A Letter Home, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Markus Walter

Cast: Adelaid Kane, Peter Vack

 

Mr. Polman Wants to Fit In, USA

Directed by Carla Dauden

Cast: William Knight, Ann Benson, Ruben Vernier

 

The Pamplemousse, Canada

Directed by Jonathan Watton

Cast: Emmanuel Bilodeau, Mika Collins

 

Satellite Beach, USA

Directed by Andrew Wilson, Luke Wilson

Cast: Luke Wilson

 

Sinceridad (Sincerity), Spain – World Premiere

Directed by Andrea Casaseca Ferrer

Cast: Kiti Mánver, Javier Laorden, Gerald B. Fillmore

 

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

 

Alfredo’s Fire, Italy/USA – World Premiere

Directed by Andy Abrahams Wilson

Featuring: Lapo Guzzini (voice)

 

Life on the Line, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Sally Rubin, Jen Gilomen

Featuring: Kimberly Torrez

 

Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution, USA

Directed by Matthew VanDyke

Featuring: Nour Keize, Omar Hattab

 

 

SHORTS PRECEDING FEATURES

 

Ahco On the Road, South Korea/USA

Directed by Soyeon Kim

 

Mr. Hublot, France/Luxembourg

Directed by Laurent Witz

 

Mia, Belgium/Netherlands

Directed by Wouter Bongaerts

 

Mirage, USA

Directed by Iker Maidagan

Cast: Veronica Taylor, Marc Diralson, Jack Schram

 

 

SANTA BARBARA DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

 

The Alchemistress, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Andrew Schoneberger

Cast: Lindsey Ross (voice)

 

A Life in Pictures, USA

Directed by Scott Erickson

 

Mabon “Teenie” Hodges – A Portrait of a Memphis Soul, USA

Directed by Susanna Vapnek

Cast: Mabon Teenie Hodges, Leroy Hodges, Charles Hodges, Archie Turner

 

Tar Wars, USA

Directed by Emily de Moor

 

Where the Wonder Went, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Bryan Latchford

Cast: Amir Abo-Shaeer, David Tilman, Julia Bowen, Zachary King

 

 

SANTA BARBARA SHORTS

 

Break Dreams, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Paul Mathieu

Cast: Garrett Swann, Susan Isaaks, Mary Jo Eustace

 

Chrysalis, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Carissa Stutzman

Cast: Amber Bela Muse, Ashley Katz, Erin Buckley

 

Greetings from Seaward, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Ryan Murphy and Nate Ptacek

Cast: Billy Smith (voice)

 

Long Way Down, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Sam Benenati

Cast: Peter Dach

 

Martha Cook, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Tony Estrada

Cast: Ben Zisk, Karina Bustillos

 

Other People, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Joakim Svensson

Cast: Maria Oliveira, Ryan Denman

 

The Plastic Pest, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Jessica Hokanson

 

Present Trauma, USA

Directed by Mark Manalo

Cast: Patrick John Flueger, Alimi Ballard, Bre Blair

 

ReMoved, USA

Directed by Nathanael Matanick

Cast: Abby White

 

Teddy, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Ali Lassoued

Cast: Al Keys, Andre Battle, Carter Battle,

 

Trespass, USA – World Premiere

Directed by Keith Schwalenberg

Cast: Manny Jimenez, Lance Irwin, Oliviah Crawford

 

 

YOUTH CINEMEDIA 2014 SHORT DOCUMENTARIES

 

Anaheim Uprising: The Police Killing of Manuel Angel Diaz, USA

 

Tesuque Grandmother Speaks, USA

 

Killer Cops Off Our Streets, USA

 

Dissent is Not a Crime, USA

 

No Letters Allowed Behind Bars, USA

 

Behind the Music of Los Bandits, USA

Hideous Hair, USA

 

Old Town Orange, USA

 

Gang Injunctions Under the Microscope, USA

 

In the Studio with Navajo Artist Clifford Brycelea, USA

 

Hospital Horror, USA

 

Aztlan Unplugged, USA

 

Innocent Bystander, USA

 

Stop Killing Our Sons, USA

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on January 7, 2014.

Gratitude Minus Platitudes

Thank You Computer Key by Stuart Miles, freedigitalimages.net

Thank You Computer Key by Stuart Miles, freedigitalimages.net

“Being grateful may be the spiritual equivalent of Prozac,” according to Dr. Robert Emmons. I couldn’t agree more, which why I’m grateful that it’s almost Thanksgiving time.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, right up there on the list with National Chocolate Day and the day the clocks “fall back” and we get an extra hour of sleep.

Any day stuffed full of food, family, friends and football is a good day in my book.

But I’ve counted my blessings in this column a few times and realized they don’t really change all that much from year to year, which is a good thing. I am eternally grateful for all of the wonderful people and gifts in my life, but this Thanksgiving I decided to see what some other people are grateful for.

By other people I mean some really famous people–and some not–whose quotes about gratitude might make you smile a little brighter as you toast the turkey this Thanksgiving.

Like Ricky Gervais I am grateful for pajamas, which are certainly handy to squeeze into once you’ve unzipped your pants after a hearty Thanksgiving meal. He says, “I’ve started wearing pajamas out, because they’re more comfortable than trousers. I started out with jeans, then went to sweatpants about ten years ago. Now it’s just pajamas. I’ve gone whole hog. I wore them to the White House.”

“I am grateful that there is life out there for someone who isn’t a scholar,” says Jamie Lee Curtis. “I wear my combined 760 SAT scores like a medal around my neck that ANYONE can make it despite being a round, square, gay, alcoholic, liberal, pampered peg in the proverbial square hole of what is the norm.” Of course having two movie star parents doesn’t hurt, but I get where she’s coming from and am happy to offer a holiday cheer to misfits everywhere.

“Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes,” says Oprah Winfrey, who admitted her shoe addiction to a live TV audience but regrettably still hasn’t invited me into her walk-in (and probably bigger than my whole house) closet.

“I figure if I have my health, can pay the rent and I have my friends, I can call it ‘content,'” says one of my favorite actresses, Lauren Bacall, who is still smoldering at 86.

And finally, some wise words from the Buddha: “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let’s all be thankful.”

Cheers to that and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

When Leslie’s not counting her blessings, gobble by gobble, she can be reached at Leslie@LeslieDinaberg.com. For more columns visit www.LeslieDinaberg.com. Originally appeared in the Santa Barbara Daily Sound on November 19, 2010.

This year I resolve to

resolutionsI make my New Year’s resolutions daily. I just strive to be a better person and I always believe in karma.Jay-Z

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. Oprah Winfrey

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.Leslie Dinaberg’s South Coasting Column, 2004

Like many ridiculously optimistic and otherwise rational people, I always take some time at the end of December to reflect on my accomplishments of the past year and set goals for the next one. The idea is to come up with a list of goals that will help transform me into a kinder, nicer, more organized, healthier, richer person with a better figure, a well-behaved family, and a much cleaner house.

Okay, so maybe my 2008 accomplishments weren’t all that stellar, but a look back at the history of my New Year’s resolutions tells me that at least I’m continuing to make some progress every year.

Resolution #1

1988: I will get back to the weight on my Driver’s License.

1997: I will get back to my weight when I got married.

2005: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

2009: I will try to develop a realistic attitude about my weight, focus on getting healthy, buy myself pretty clothes and develop my personality. (Confession: I’d like to take credit for this line, but truthfully it’s what my father said about me the first time he saw me when I was an hour old.)

Resolution #2

1992: I will not spend my money frivolously and save enough money to put a down payment on a small house in Santa Barbara.

1998: I will not spend any money at all on anything, under any circumstances, and save enough to put a down payment on a small house in Isla Vista, with the help of my parents and anyone else who might want to invest.

2003: I will not spend my money frivolously and save enough to put a down payment on a small used car.

2006: I will stop buying so many new pairs of shoes.

2008: I will try to keep my expenses below 110 percent of my income.

2009: I will stop crumpling my tax deductible receipts into teeny tiny balls of paper that raise my husband’s blood pressure every year come April.

Resolution #3

2003: I will stop smoking.

2004: I will stop smoking.

2005: I will stop smoking.

2006: I will stop smoking.

2007: I will stop smoking.

2008: I will stop smoking.

2009: I will stop smoking. (Confession: I never started smoking in the first place, but I always like to give myself one easy thing that I know I can accomplish to make myself feel better about this whole New Year’s resolution thing.)

Resolution #4

2003: I will spend more time with my family.

2006: I will spend more quality time with my family.

2008: I will redefine quality time with my family to mean that we all have to be awake, with no one yelling, but not necessarily doing the same activity in the same room at the same time.

December 22, 2008: Screw the family. I will carve out some quality time for myself, by myself, and not feel guilty about it. (Written immediately after disembarking from a five-day cruise with my extended family.)

2009: I will spend more quality time with my family and my dear friends, but only after spending enough quality time with myself to not be grumpy.

Resolution #5

1998: I will treat my body as a temple and eat only healthy, organic foods.

2000: I will only order out for pizza once a week.

2003: I will remember that Chuck’s Mai Tais do not count as a serving of fruit, even though they come with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. The celery in a Brophy Brother’s Bloody Mary doesn’t count as a vegetable either.

2006: I will sit down with my family and eat a healthy, balanced meal at least once a week.

2008: I will eat a piece of dark chocolate and I will drink a glass of red wine every night, but only for the good of my health.

2009: Ditto.

Resolution #6

1982: I will write a book before I’m 30.

1995: I will write a book before I’m 40.

2005: I will read at least 10 books a year whose titles I’m not embarrassed to talk about.

2007: I actually wrote a few books. So what If they’re shorter than this column and the graphics are kind of cheesy. I have my own ISBN numbers.

2008: I co-authored a book and it’s actually pretty good. I will do my best to help sell “Hometown Santa Barbara” so I can actually make some money this year.

2009: I will write a novel before I’m 50.

Resolution #7

1993: I will not fight with my boyfriend about household chores.

1994: I will not fight with my husband about household chores.

1999: My husband will stop pretending he knows how to fix the car and I will stop pretending I am the least bit competent in the kitchen.

2007: My husband will stop pretending he doesn’t see the pile of laundry that needs to be folded and I will stop pretending I don’t know how to plunge the toilet and pump my own gas.

2009: My husband will make sure I have gas in my car if I give him enough warning when the tank is low and I will stop making New Year’s resolutions on behalf of other people.

Resolution #8

2003: I will not fight with Koss about cleaning up his toys.

2005: I will not fight with Koss about doing his chores.

2006: I will not fight with Koss about his homework, doing his chores and cleaning up his dirty sweat socks.

2007: I will not fight with Koss about his homework, doing his chores and cleaning up his dirty sweat socks and his sweaty t-shirts.

2008: I will not fight with Koss about his homework, doing his chores, cleaning up his dirty sweat socks and his sweaty t-shirts, and how much time he spends on the computer.

2009: Koss will be responsible for his own homework, his own chores and his own dirty clothes. But I am still his mother and I can make resolutions for him if I want to!

Resolution #9

2008: I will put away money that I would have spent on lattes in a little jar every day and maybe when I retire I’ll be able to afford an R.V. that I can park somewhere in Santa Barbara.

2009: Who am I kidding? I can’t live without lattes. Pass the Equal, and the wine and chocolate while you’re at it.

Cheers to a New Year and may all your troubles last as long as my New Year’s resolutions.

Share your resolutions with Leslie by emailing email . Originally published in the Santa Barbara Daily Sound on January 2, 2009.