The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and panels, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire people through the power of film. We celebrate the art of cinema and provide impactful educational experiences for our local, national and global communities.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival started in 1986 and takes place in Santa Barbara, CA
Zoe Saldaña will be honored at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival with the American Riviera Award at an in-person conversation about her career, leading up to her acclaimed performance this year as Rita Moro Castro in Netflix’s Emilia Pérez. Saldaña will receive the award on Friday, February 7, 2025 .
Angelina Jolie will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival. In her latest film, “Maria” she portrays the iconic opera singer Maria Callas.
Actor, writer, producer, and comedy legend Will Ferrell will receive the 17th annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
TransMexico directed by Claudia Sanchez, a documentary built around the incredible lives of three transwomen in Mexico, won the Audience Choice Award at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).
The Long Game a feature film starring Academy Award-nominated actors Kathleen Turner and Jackie Earle Haley, and introducing Sekai Abení in her feature debut, will make its World Premiere at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, taking place February 7-17, 2024.
Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall) will receive the 2024 SBIFF Directors of the Year Award at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at an in-person conversation about their respective films.
Actress Annette Bening will be honored with the inaugural Arlington Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Bening will receive the award on Friday, February 16th, 2024 at an in-person conversation about her career leading up to her acclaimed performance in this year’s Nyad, directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
Paul Giamatti will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival for his moving portrayal of curmudgeonly prep school teacher Paul Hunham in Focus Features’ The Holdovers.
The 39th edition of Santa Barbara International Film will run February 7 to 17, 2024 showcasing 45 world premieres and 77 U.S. premieres from 48 countries.
Jeffrey Wright, star of American Fiction, and Rustin, will receive the Montecito Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Wright will receive the award on Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at an in-person conversation about his career leading up to this year’s performance in American Fiction, written and directed by Cord Jefferson.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, America Ferrera, and Andrew Scott with the Virtuosos Award, “an honor created to recognize a select group of talent whose noteworthy performances in films this season have elevated them into the national cinematic dialogue.” The honorees will discuss their work and receive their awards in-person on Saturday, February 10 during the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Bradley Cooper will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in Maestro from Netflix. Cooper will be honored on Thursday, February 8, 2024.