The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by UGG, has announced the award-winning films for the 37th edition. Awards were revealed Saturday morning at a ceremony by Maune Contemporary Gallery in Santa Barbara with jury and filmmakers in attendance.
“We are so thrilled to have had our slate of 200 films from 54 countries so well-received by festivalgoers. A few films even elicited standing ovations,” said Claudia Puig, SBIFF programming director.
“We are very proud that filmmakers came from as far as Nepal, Iran and Uganda, and many countries in between, to attend with their films,” she said. “We thank all the wonderful filmmakers and our enthusiastic Santa Barbara audience for making this such a joyful return to theaters, and a celebration of terrific world cinema.”
The films were chosen by jury members Carlos Aguilar, Justine Bateman, Dupe Bosu, Julie Carmen, Annlee Ellingson, Tim Grierson, Beandrea July, Elizabeth Lo, Scott Mantz, Jose Novoa, Gil Robertson, Charles Solomon, Angie Wang, Steve Zahn, and Anthony and Annette Zerbe.
Audience Choice Award sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent: Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy’s “Róise and Frank” (“Mo ghrá buan”)
Best Documentary Short Film Award: Jordan Matthew Horowitz’s “Lalito 10”
Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film: Marilyn Cooke’s “No Ghost in the Morgue” (“Pas de Fantome á la Morgue”)
Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film: Zacharias Kunuk’s “The Shaman’s Apprentice”
Best Documentary Award: Jon-Sesrie Goff’s “After Sherman”
Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film: Shawkat Amin Korki’s “The Exam” (“Ezmun”)
Best Middle Eastern/Israeli Film Award: Dina Amer’s “You Resemble Me” (“Tu me Ressembles”)
Best Nordic/Dutch Film Award: Marianne Blicher’s “Miss Viborg”
Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: Martín Barrenechea and Nicolás Branca’s “9”
Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema: Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson’s “Scarborough”
Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: Emma Macey-Storch’s “Geeta”
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Stand Up Award, sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, the Skinner Social Impact Fund, and Steve and Cindy Lyons: Jordan W. Barrow and Matt Edwards’ “Our Worlds Collide”
Friday night featured a free 10-year anniversary screening of “Silver Linings Playbook,” followed by a Q&A with writer/director David O. Russell and editor Jay Cassidy, moderated by Roger During, SBIFF executive director.
With regards to the film’s focus on mental health, Russell said: “The film for me was very personal, because in my family we have this … and Robert also had it in his family, so he related to it; and Bradley and Jennifer were both gifted with a beautiful craziness themselves, so they related to it.
“I’ve had many people come up to me over the years who were grateful for the removal of the stigma. I loved watching it right now! I was standing over there and I was crying and I was laughing … it just came out real nice and it’s a nice thing to look at and feel,” Russell said.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has joined Direct Relief to deliver aid in response to the Ukraine crisis. The fundraiser has exceeded $92,000. To help SBIFF reach its goal of $100,000 donate here.