A crowd packed the Arlington Theatre Wednesday for the opening night of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The first event was the world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim,” which was attended by director Michelle Danner, producer and writer George Kolber, and actors Abigail Breslin, Mireille Enos, Emily VanCamp, Josh Bowman, Luke Wilson, Ryan Phillippe, Enrique Muricano, and Andy Garcia.
The Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara lights up the marquee for the opening night film of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Wednesday night. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Abigail Breslin attends the opening night world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Rebecca Sapp / SBIFF photo 
Luke Wilson and Ryan Phillippe attend the opening night world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Rebecca Sapp / SBIFF photo 
From left, Nolan Gould, Luke Wilson, Josh Bowman, Emily VanCamp, George Kolber, Mireille Enos, Enrique Muricano, Abigail Breslin, Andy Garcia, Michelle Danner, Sebastian Quinn and Ryan Phillippe attend the Opening Night Film “Miranda’s Victim” during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Tibrina Hobson / SBIFF photo 
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Director Roger Durling welcomes the crowd at the Opening Night event. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
A crowd fills the Arlington Theatre Wednesday night for the Opening Night film screening of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse speaks at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Wednesday night. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
George Kolber and Michelle Danner talk about the film “Miranda’s Victim” at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Opening Night premiere Wednesday night. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
George Kolber talks about the film “Miranda’s Victim” during Wednesday night’s premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Ira Kunyansky and Abigail Breslin attend the opening night world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” after party during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Rebecca Sapp / SBIFF photo 
Michelle Danner and Andy Garcia attend the opening night world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” after party during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Rebecca Sapp / SBIFF photo 
From left, Nolan Gould, guest, Emily VanCamp, Enrique Murciano, Josh Bowman, and Sebastian Quinn attend the opening night world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” after party during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night. Credit: Rebecca Sapp / SBIFF photo
“It’s 1963 when eighteen-year-old Patricia “Trish” Weir is kidnapped and brutally raped at knife-point. Committed to putting Ernesto Miranda in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation,” SBIFF says in its film summary.
The 38th SBIFF runs through Feb. 18 and will feature 53 world premiere films, 78 U.S. premieres, celebrity tributes, industry panels and daily film screenings.
Visit the SBIFF website for tickets and the full lineup of films and events.
If you don’t buy a pass, you can still purchase individual tickets to film screenings. Here’s how to purchase rush tickets.
Here’s more information on free film screenings and events during this year’s film festival.