Richard Hobert’s The Birdcatcher’s Son won the the top prize – Audience Choice Award at the 35th Santa Barbara International Film Festival which wrapped over the weekend. Fatos Berisha’s The Flying Circus won the Jeffrey C. Barbakow award for Best International Feature Film, and the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema went to William Nicholson’s Hope Gap.

“It’s been a wonderful 35 years celebrating international cinema as well as our local roots,” said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling in a statement. “We are grateful for all of the staff, volunteers, audiences and filmmakers that were able to join us at SBIFF to come together as a community to celebrate over 200 films – forge a sense of community and love that defies boundary.”

The 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6, 2021.

Winners of 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Audience Choice Award
Richard Hobert’s “The Birdcatcher’s Son”

Best Documentary Short Film Award:
Henry Roosevelt’s “Sixth of June”

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film:
Jianna Maartin’s “Sin Cielo”

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film:
Jonathan Langager’s “Cosmic Fling”

Best Documentary Award sponsored by SEE International:
Brian Morrison’s “Bastards’ Road”

Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film:
Fatos Berisha’s “The Flying Circus”

Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema:
William Nicholson’s “Hope Gap”

Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema:
Gerardo Herrero’s “The Goya Murders”

Valhalla Award for Best Nordic Film:
Jesper W. Nielsen’s “The Exception”

ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties:
Lydia Dean Pilcher’s “Liberté: A Call to Spy”

Social Justice Award for Documentary Film:
Katherin Hervey’s “The Prison Within”