The Santa Barbara International Film Festival sells four levels of festival passes for priority admission to films and special events, but there also are options to buy tickets to individual film screenings or special events.
Tickets to films and individual special events are less than $30, while the price of festival passes ranges from $500 to $5,000.
Individual tickets to special events (tributes, panels, and opening and closing night screenings) are pre-sold on the SBIFF website here and at the door if still available.
All tickets are general admission, and the doors open 30 minutes before the start time. If an event is “sold out,” there is a possibility for rush tickets. Those are available for purchase only after everyone has been seated, space permitting. A rush ticket line will be at each event for those last-minute available seats.
To get film screening tickets, moviegoers have the option of buying a MiniPak (good for four admissions) or individual rush film tickets.
“The MiniPak is valid for four film screening admissions (one person to four films, four people to one film or any other combination),” the SBIFF states. “Films are not pre-selected. MiniPaks are treated on a first-come, first-served basis.
“A numbered Q card will be offered one hour prior to show time to reserve your place in line, after which you are welcome to leave the line and enjoy downtown. Once passholders have been admitted, we will seat MiniPak holders with Qs in numerical order until everyone is seated or the theater is full. A MiniPak and Q do not guarantee admission as the number of passholders varies at each screening.”
The individual film tickets (rush tickets) are only available for purchase five minutes before the start of each film, space permitting.
“A rush ticket line will be at each venue for these last-minute available seats. Rush tickets are $10,” according to SBIFF.
There are also free SBIFF events with first-come, first-served seating after passholders have been admitted.
Click here for Noozhawk’s guide to free film screenings during this year’s festival.
All SBIFF attendees, staff and volunteers are required to provide photo ID and proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Masks are required to be worn inside all festival venues for events and screenings and while in line for those events, according to SBIFF.
— 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.