Bronagh Gallagher, who stars in ‘A Bump Along the Way,’ the opening-night film for the Santa Barbara international Film Festival, on the red carpet Wednesday night at the Arlington Theatre. 
Santa Barbara international Film Festival executive director Roger Durling on stage at the Arlington Theatre to welcome the audience to the opening night film. 
Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Megan Harmon, left, and Mayor Cathy Murillo on the red carpet. 
A DJ entertains the crowd at the opening night gala for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara. 
The marquee at the Arlington Theatre is lit up for the opening night of the Santa Barbara international Film Festival. 
Director Kellen Keene with Ryan and Casey Higginbotham, who are featured in the film ‘By Hand.’ 
Luiza Botelho Almeida, producer of the film ‘My Friend Fela.’ 
Director Alonso Llosa, left, and producer Gustavo Rosa from the film ‘The Restoration.’ 
Programs for the Santa Barbara international Film Festival linied up at the Arlington Theatre. 
Santa Barbara international Film Festival Executive Director Roger Durling on the red carpet. 
Diego Tinoco from the Netflix series ‘On My Block.’ 
The audience at the Arlington Theatre for the opening night of the Santa Barbara international Film Festiva. 
Crowds enjoy the opening night gala for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara. 
A musician entertains the crowd at the opening night gala for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara.
The U.S. premiere screening of the comedy-drama A Bump Along the Way kicked off the 35th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night.
“To open with an international film from Ireland was important,” Film Festival Executive Director Roger Durling said before the event. “It’s an all-female team that produced, wrote and directed the film, and the theme of it all — it’s special to us.”
Arrivals who attended the evening’s red carpet included directors such as Adam James Smith, Kellen Keene, Alonso Llosa, as well as film producers Ryan Higginbotham, Casey Higginbotham, Gustavo Rosa, Luiza Botelho Almeida, and writer Mila Kudryashova.
Others seen photographed were actor Diego Tinoco, Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo and City Councilwoman Meagan Harmon, whose district includes the downtown corridor.
“I love hearing back from my residents that they have been watching films over and over,” Murillo said. “There are people who go to as many movies as they can, and at this time, in our society, people are worried about climate change.
“This is a great escape for them,” she continued. “It's cathartic to have your emotions go up and down.”
Durling welcomed the large crowd to the historic entertainment venue in Santa Barbara, and the audience broke out into applause.
In his opening remarks, Durling thanked the several film festival sponsors, including opening night film presenting sponsor and festival sponsor Ugg, and a dedicated team of roughly 600 volunteers assisting with the festival.
Durling acknowledged the founding and current SBIFF leadership board of directors.
He also shouted out the spouses with loved-ones who are involved in SBIFF.
Before the screening, Durling encouraged the audience to speak with the people around them inside the theater. He gave attendees a minute, so they could introduce themselves to a stranger.
Seconds later, the cinema fans erupted in friendly chatter.
Durling spoke about a sense of community and being unafraid to reach out to others.
“You could be at home in front of your television right now binge-watching the latest series on Hulu,” Durling said. “Instead, you have opted to be surrounded my other breathing human beings, and you have opted to join a community.”
The opening night film tells the feel-good story about a middle-aged woman whose unexpected pregnancy after a boozy one-night stand acts as the catalyst for her to take control of her life and become the role model her teenage daughter's craves and needs.
A Bump Along the Way is set in Derry, Northern Ireland, and it follows a daughter and her 44-year-old single mother on their journeys in search of better versions of themselves.
The women-led film features Bronagh Gallagher, Lola Petticrew, Mary Moulds, Dan Gordon and Brendan Farrell.
When asked about the biggest message of the movie, Gallagher told Noozhawk; “That love is the lord of all, and the communication between families must be about support, forgiveness and continuation.”
At the event, the Irish-born actress also went on stage and used her cellphone to take a picture of the cheering crowd.
Gallagher’s sister, Louise Gallagher, produced the film.
“She sent all her love,” Bronagh said.
Shelly Love is the director of the opening night film and Tess McGowan is the screenwriter.
After the movie, guests 21 and over attended the opening night after-party at Paseo Nuevo’s outdoor courtyards in downtown Santa Barbara. The film-themed gala featured food and drinks, dancing and live entertainment, and more.
SBIFF is a nonprofit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent, as well as international cinema.
It has become a leading film festival in America, attracting 95,000 film fans and offering 11 days with more than 200 films, tributes and panels, fulfilling its mission to engage, enrich and inspire people through the power of film, according to SBIFF organizers.
The festival continues through Jan. 25.
For more information, visit www.sbiff.org.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
