The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) for 2023 will take place Feb. 8-18, SBIFF has announced.

“SBIFF has long been a place to celebrate and showcase the enduring power of cinema,” said Roger Durling, the festival’s executive director. “As we have been confronted with difficult times, film and festivals have continued to be a place for reflection and inspiration.

“It is with that in mind that we excitedly prepare the 38th SBIFF edition and look forward to bringing the year’s best cinema and talent to our devoted patrons.”

The 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival presented by UGG will be happening live. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout the city, including at the historic Arlington Theatre.

Last year, SBIFF returned to in-person screenings, panels and events. The festival had 48 world premiere, 95 U.S. premieres, with honorary awards presented to Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Kristen Stewart, Penélope Cruz, Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Alana Haim, Ciarán Hinds, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Simon Rex, Saniyya Sidney, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kenneth Branagh, Jane Campion, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and Steven Spielberg.

Historically, organizers are expecting A-list guests to once again come to Santa Barbara for the festival. The film final lineup and schedule will be announced January.

Passes for the 2023 Festival are on sale now for 25% off. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org. 

SBIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 37 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the U.S., attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums.

In 2019, SBIFF opened an Education Center on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.