Spotlights pierced the rainy skies Tuesday night to declare the start of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The Arlington Theatre was packed with people to see the opening night film, “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,” and to kick off 12 days of film screenings, celebrity tributes and industry panels.
Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse welcomed the crowd and “our neighbors to the south,” saying he hoped the festival could be at least a distraction for Los Angeles residents recovering from the fires.
“It’s a great way to escape a lot of nonsense you have to go through in the rest of your life,” he said.
The film festival is partnering with Direct Relief this year for a LA wildfire relief fundraiser.
“Santa Barbara is no stranger to disasters,” Rowse said.
SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling reflected on how the organization has grown in the last 40 years, including last year’s addition of the Film Center in the heart of downtown.
The organization plans to renovate the theaters (the former Fiesta Five) later this year, he said, adding, “I’m blown away looking at the renderings.
“All we want to do is make you guys proud of what we’re doing.”
The festival runs through Saturday, Feb. 15. The full schedule of film screenings and events can be viewed on the SBIFF website.
Some of the celebrity tribute events were sold out as of Tuesday, but a rush ticket line will be formed the night of the event in case seats become available, SBIFF said.
SBIFF will use its new Film Center at 916 State St. as a central downtown hub for film screenings.
Films will also be shown at SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre at 2044 Alameda Padre Serra.
Every year, the festival also hosts free screenings and filmmaker seminars, including animated family-friendly movies at the Marjorie Luke Theatre at 721 E. Cota St.
