This is a guide to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s free movie offerings at this year’s event.
After a reimagined, mostly virtual schedule for 2021 due to the pandemic, SBIFF is back with a busy 11 days of movie screenings, in-person tribute events and panel discussions.
All attendees are required to provide photo ID and proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and masks will be required inside theater venues and in lines for all festival events and screenings, according to SBIFF.
Free screenings are listed below, in chronological order. Check out the digital program guide for a schedule of all festival events.
Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis following festival pass-holder admission. Theaters are operating at a reduced capacity, according to SBIFF.
Thursday, March 3: “The Power of the Dog” followed by a Q&A with Jane Campion
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee. Nominated for twelve Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, two for Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound.”
Friday, March 4: “Licorice Pizza” followed by a Q&A with Paul Thomas Anderson and Alana Haim
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “‘Licorice Pizza’ is the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around, and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. The film tracks the treacherous navigation of first love. Starring Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.”
Saturday, March 5: “Belfast”
4 p.m. at the Metro Theatre #3
From the SBIFF guide: “‘Belfast’ is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s. Starring Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Jude Hill. Nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Sound.”
Sunday, March 6: “King Richard” followed by a Q&A with Reinaldo Marcus Green and Aunjanue Ellis
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California, to the global stage as legendary icons. Starring Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, Jon Berntha. Nominated for five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.”
Monday, March 7: TBD film
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
Tuesday, March 8: “Selena” (1997 film)
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos star in this celebration of Selena Quintanilla Perez, a girl from South Texas with global talent, incredible will, and magnetic charm. Young, beautiful, and enormously gifted, 23-year-old Selena shone as a fresh new star in a vibrantly new musical field. But just as she was poised to be the next pop music sensation, her life was tragically cut short.”
Wednesday, March 9: TBD film
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
Thursday, March 10: “The Good Boss” (El buen patrón)
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “Blanco, the charismatic owner of a family-run factory, covets a local award for business excellence. The veneer of the perfect company cracks as Blanco must deal with a vengeful fired worker, a depressed supervisor, and an infatuated ambitious intern. To win the competition, the manipulative ‘good boss’ meddles in his employees’ private lives and crosses every line imaginable. Javier Bardem stars in this darkly funny social satire of the workplace. Shortlisted for Academy Awards: Best International Feature Film, Spain.” (subtitled)
Friday, March 11: “House of Darkness”
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: United States North American Independent Cinema World Premiere. “‘HOUSE OF DARKNESS’ follows a man who drives a woman home after they meet over drinks in a local bar. When she invites him into her home for a nightcap, however, the evening doesn’t follow the familiar path toward seduction. Doors creak and lights flicker and go out as the man keeps pushing for romance, even when unexpected occurrences offset his attempts at a romantic connection with this mysterious object of his desire. Starring Justin Long, Kate Bosworth.”
Friday, March 11: “Silver Linings Playbook” followed by a Q&A with David O. Russell and editor Jay Cassidy
7 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
From the SBIFF guide: “In celebration of its 10th anniversary, SBIFF presents a free screening of ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ followed by a Q&A with David O. Russell and Editor Jay Cassidy. After losing his job and wife and spending time in a mental institution, Pat Solitano is living with his parents. He wants to rebuild his life and reunite with his wife, but his parents would be happy if he just shared their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles. Things get complicated when Pat meets Tiffany, who offers to help him reconnect with his wife, if he will do something important for her in exchange. Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver.”
Saturday, March 12: 10-101- Student Shorts
2 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. in Santa Barbara
View the SBIFF program guide here.
Event venues include the Metro 4 Theatre at 618 State St., the Fiesta 5 Theatre at 916 State St., and the Arlington Theatre at 1317 State St.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.