The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on Tuesday announced the highly anticipated lineup for the 39th edition, which will run Feb. 7-17, 2024. The festival will showcase 45 world premieres and 77 U.S. premieres from 48 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
“We have a wonderfully eclectic program this year from 48 countries around the world,” said Claudia Puig, SBIFF programming director. “We are especially proud that half of our slate of films are directed by women, and a large percentage by under-represented filmmakers. We know there will be something for everyone at our festival — and likely quite a lot for most. Nearly three-quarters of the films we’re showcasing have never been seen before in the US. We’re excited to introduce these films to audiences and thrilled that filmmakers from nearly every continent will be on hand to meet those attending SBIFF, and share in the communal love of film.”
OPENING NIGHT
SBIFF 2024 will kick off on Opening Night Wednesday, Feb. 7, with the World Premiere of the documentary MADU directed by Matt Ogens and Joel ‘Kachi Benson. Both directors will be joining in-person.
From practicing barefoot on the streets of Lagos to performing on stage in England, 12-year-old Anthony Madu leaves his home in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Anthony, who had barely left his neighborhood in Lagos, finds himself thrust into a new world where his wildest dream is suddenly within reach. His journey is a story of extraordinary obstacles, courage, growth, and ultimately, his search for belonging.
CLOSING NIGHT
SBIFF 2024 will close on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the World Premiere of CHOSEN FAMILY directed by Heather Graham and starring Heather Graham, Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, and Michael Gross. Director and cast will be joining in-person.
Yoga teacher Ann is trying to find inner peace despite having a manic family, a miserable dating life, and an inability to say no that keeps her busy trying to fix everyone else’s problems.
THE TRIBUTES
SBIFF is an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 39th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre.
- Outstanding Performer of the Year Award sponsored by Deadline honoring Bradley Cooper — Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
- Maltin Modern Master Award Presented by Manitou Fund honoring Robert Downey Jr. — Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.
- Virtuosos Award honoring Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Colman Domingo (The Color Purple & Rustin), America Ferrera (Barbie), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Charles Melton (May December), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), and Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) — Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Dave Karger.
- Variety Artisans Award sponsored by Variety — Sunday, Feb. 11, at 11am . Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
- American Riviera Award honoring Mark Ruffalo — Sunday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Anne Thompson.
- Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter — Monday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
- Montecito Award honoring Jeffrey Wright — Thursday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Roger Durling.
- Cinema Vanguard Award honoree and date to be announced
THE PANELS
SBIFF is renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar contenders. Returning will be the annual Producers, Writers, Women’s and International Panels. All Panels will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre. Panelists, dates and times to be announced.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MENTIONS
SBIFF Poster Designed by Acclaimed Artist Angela Perko — The 2024 SBIFF poster was painted by acclaimed artist and Santa Barbara resident Angela Perko. Like many women artists, Angela started painting later in life, after her children were older and the family business was well established. Angela and her husband own a rare bookstore, and she credits exposure to art books for sparking her interest in painting. Although she studied plein-air painting with Santa Barbara artist Michael Drury, she is essentially a self-taught artist. The Canadian Group of Seven greatly influenced her early work, as well as many of the Santa Fe artists. A trip to the Yucatán had profound impact and motifs of ancient art and popular Mexican art began to appear in her work. Currently her work explores where nature and culture intersect over time and place.
Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies — Named for renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies uses filmmaking to nurture creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. This year’s program will be offered to 4,000-plus fourth- to sixth-grade students from Title I (low-income) schools throughout Santa Barbara County. This year will feature two in-person Q&As; Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers following SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE and Director Peter Sohn following ELEMENTAL. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, US Bank, Yardi, Bentson Foundation, Volentine Family Foundation.
Film Studies Program – The Film Studies Program will invite 30 undergraduate film students from across the country to the Film Festival where they’ll take part in a packed curriculum that turns the festival into an interactive classroom. Participants receive priority access to the films, panels, filmmaker seminars, tributes, as well as intimate Q&As with filmmakers.
10–10–10 Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Mentorship and Competition – The 10-10-10 Program is made up of 20 area high school and college screenwriters and filmmakers. This year’s program includes filmmaking workshops, individual mentorship, and access to casting, visual effects, producing and sound mentors. The student screenwriters and directors are paired together and guided through the process of taking a film from script to screen. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Productions.
Free Filmmaker Seminars – SBIFF will again present seminars with filmmakers premiering at this year’s festival. These seminars will be free to the public and will take place on each weekday during the Festival at Tamsen Gallery at 911 1/2 State St.
The ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties – This award will be presented to a dramatic film in the festival that represents an important message consistent with ADL’s efforts “to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” The winner will be announced during the Festival.
The ASC Award for Cinematography sponsored by The American Society of Cinematographers has been added to the list of SBIFF’s 2024 awards and will recognize a film with exceptional visual composition that advances the art and science of cinematography and promotes the motion picture as an art form.
2024 FILMS
Below is the list of feature and short films at the 2024 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.
19 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
76 Days
Directed by Joe Wein
United States
Alien Contact
Directed by Rick Rosenthal
United States
Art and Life: The Story of Jim Phillips
Directed by John Edward Makens
Books & Drinks
Directed by Geoffrey Cowper
Dominican Republic
Chosen Family
Directed by Heather Graham
United States
Dandelions
Directed by Basil Mironer
United States
Diving into the Darkness
Directed by Nays Baghai
Australia
Electra
Directed by Hala Matar
Bahrain
The Fight for Black Lives
Directed by Micere Keels
United States
Giants Rising
Directed by Lisa Landers
United States
God & Country
Directed by Dan Partland
United States
Lili
Directed by Sylwia Rosak
Poland
The Long Game
Directed by Jace Anderson
United States
Madu
Directed by Matt Ogens, Joel ‘Kachi Benson
United States, Nigeria, United Kingdom
The Movie Man
Directed by Matt Finlin
Canada
Okie
Directed by Kate Cobb
United States
Running for the Mountains
Directed by Babette Hogan, Julie Eisenberg
United States
Send Kelp!
Directed by Blake McWilliam
Canada
Veselka
Directed by Michael Fiore
United States
56 U.S. PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
Achilles
Directed by Farhad Delaram
Iran, France Germany
Andragogy
Directed by Wregas Bhanuteja
Indonesia
Atikamekw Suns
Directed by Chloé Leriche
Canada
The Ballad of a Hustler
Directed by Heitor Dhalia
United States, Brazil
Before It Ends (Når befrielsen kommer)
Directed by Anders Walter
Denmark
Birthday Girl
Directed by Michael Noer
Denmark
The Blue Star (La estrella azul)
Directed by Javier Macipe
Spain, Argentina
Cinema Laika
Directed by Veljko Vidak
France, Finland
Cold (Kuldi)
Directed by Erlingur Thoroddsen
Iceland
Cold Sigh
Directed by Nahid Azizi Sedigh
Iran
Coup!
Directed by Austin Stark, Joseph Schuman
United States
Crush: Message in a Bottle
Directed by Maya Gallus
Canada
Dance First
Directed by James Marsh
United Kingdom
Days of Happiness
Directed by Chloé Robichaud
Canada
Dear Jassi
Directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
India
Disconnect Me
Directed by Alex Lykos
Australia
Edge of Everything
Directed by Sophia Sabella, Pablo Feldman
United States
El paraiso
Directed by Enrico Maria Artale
Italy
Estonia
Directed by
Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Estonia
Excursion (Ekskurzija)
Directed by Una Gunjak
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, France, Norway, Qatar
French Girl
Directed by James A. Woods, Nicolas Wright
Canada
Good Savage
Directed by Santiago Mohar Volkow
Mexico
Green Night
Directed by Han Shuai
Hong Kong
Hoard
Directed by Luna Carmoon
United Kingdom
Homecoming (Máhccan)
Directed by Suvi West, Anssi Kömi
Finland, Norway
I’m Just Here for the Riot
Directed by Asia Youngman, Kathleen Jayme
Canada
The King Tide
Directed by Christian Sparkes
Canada
The Last Daughter
Directed by Brenda Matthews, Nathaniel Schmidt
Australia
The Last Movie
Directed by Olaug Spissøy Kyvik
Norway
Let Me Go (Laissez-moi)
Directed by Maxime Rappaz
Switzerland
Medium
Directed by Christina Ioakeimidi
Greece
Mimang
Directed by Kim Tae-yang
South Korea
The Movie Teller
Directed by Lone Scherfig
Spain, France, Chile
Mr. Freeman
Directed by Mads Matthiesen
Denmark
Much Ado About Dying
Directed by Simon Chambers
Ireland
On Earth as in Heaven (Sur la terre comme au ciel)
Directed by Nathalie Saint-Pierre
Canada
On the Edge (État limite)
Directed by Nicolas Peduzzi
France
The Other Son
Directed by Juan Sebastián Quebrada
Colombia, France, Argentina
Over the Cracks (Sous le tapis)
Directed by Camille Japy
France
Photophobia
Directed by Ivan Ostrochovský, Pavel Pekar?ík
Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Point of Change
Directed by Rebecca Coley
United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Indonesia
Prison in the Andes (Penal Cordillera)
Directed by Felipe Carmona
Chile, Brazil
Queen of Bones
Directed by Robert Budreau
United States
A Ravaging Wind
Directed by Paula Hernández
Argentina, Uruguay
The Reeds
Directed by Cemil A?ac?ko?lu
Turkey
Rickerl
Directed by Adrian Goiginger
Austria, Germany
The Rooster
Directed by Mark Leonard Winter
Australia
Seagrass
Directed by Meredith Hama-Brown
Canada
Snow Leopard
Directed by Pema Tseden
China
Suze
Directed by Linsey Stewart, Dane Clark
Canada
That They May Face the Rising Sun
Directed by Pat Collins
Ireland