The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by UGG, has announced the lineup of films for the festival’s 37th edition, March 2-12.
The festival will feature 48 world premieres and 95 U.S. premieres from 54 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
“It brings us an unbridled joy to share our slate for this edition of SBIFF,” said Roger Durling, SBIFF executive director. “After two years of incertitude, it feels good to know we can continue to count on film and the festival to give us a sense of comfort and continuity. We’re extremely proud of the offerings at the 37th fest.”
Opening Night Film for SBIFF 2022 (presented by UGG) is the U.S. premiere of “The Phantom of the Open” on Wednesday, March 2. A heartwarming British comedy starring Oscar winners Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance, its is based on the true story of Maurice Fitcroft, who entered the 1976 British Open despite never having played a round of golf before.
SBIFF 2022 will close Saturday, March 12 with “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make me Over,” with the iconic singer in attendance. The documentary follows Warwick as she smashed through cultural, racial and gender barriers to become the soundtrack for generations and a voice fighting for humanitarian causes. Featuring interviews with Burt Bachrach, Gladys Knight, Gloria Estefan, Snoop Dogg, and Bill Clinton.
Tributes
SBIFF is a showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 37th SBIFF celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre as well as streamed live.
Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, 8 p.m., Thursday, March 3. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
American Riviera Award honoring Kristen Stewart, 8 p.m. Friday, March 4. Moderated by Anne Thompson.
Virtuosos Award presented by UGG, honoring Caitriona Balfe (“Belfast”), Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”), Alana Haim (“Licorice Pizza”), Emilia Jones (“CODA”), Troy Kotsur (“CODA”), Simon Rex (“Red Rocket”), and Saniyya Sidney (“King Richard”), 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5, moderated by Dave Karger.
Variety Artisans Award sponsored by Variety, 8 p.m. Monday, March 7 Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
Montecito Award, 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 8. Honoree to be announced.
Outstanding Performers of the Year Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, 8 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
Cinema Vanguard Award sponsored by Deadline honoring Benedict Cumberbatch, 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 9. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
Maltin Modern Master Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.
Panels
SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including numerous Oscar contenders. Returning will be the annual Producers Panel, Writers Panel, and Women’s Panel. All panels will be in person at the Arlington Theatre, as well as streamed live. Panelists to be announced.
Writers Panel – 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5. Moderated by Anne Thompson
Producers Panel – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5. Moderated by Glenn Whipp
Women’s Panel – 11 a.m. Sunday, March 12. Moderated by Madelyn Hammond
Special Screenings and Q&As
“The Power of the Dog” followed by a Q&A with Jane Campion – 2 p.m. Thursday, March 3; free admission.
10th Anniversary screening of “Silver Linings Playbook,” followed by a Q&A with David O. Russell. Date/time to be announced; free admission.
Greg Nava Retrospective” Nava’s seminal immigration saga “El Norte,” and “Selena,” the bio-pic about the Tejano music legend who met a tragic end when she was just 23, starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos. Olmos will be in attendance at the screening.
“Selena” – 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8; free admission.
“El Norte” – 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 9; free admission.
Nava will be present for a Q&A following each of the screenings. Olmos will also be joining for the “Selena” Q&A.
Free screenings made possible with support from John C. Mithun Foundation.
Educational Programs, Free Programs and Other Mentions
SBIFF Poster – The 2022 SBIFF poster was painted by acclaimed artist and Santa Barbara resident Hank Pitcher.
“Standing on a beach, looking out to sea, or sitting in a theater looking at the screen, we project our hopes and dreams out onto those vast surfaces. It is like waiting in line to buy a ticket, then walking through the lobby into the auditorium to find a seat, or going to the shore and walking down to stand by the water. Both are about desire and discovery,” Pitcher said.
“I love big old movie theaters like the Riviera and the Arlington and the Granada. I have long thought of my painting as a way to stop the film at my favorite part and walk up on the stage and into the scene to look around,” he said.
Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies – Named for nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies uses filmmaking to nurture creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. This year’s MFT Program will be offered to 2,000 fourth- to sixth-grade students from Title I (low-income) schools throughout Santa Barbara County.
This year’s program will feature critically acclaimed films and live Q&As with their directors, recorded discussions with the filmmakers and artisans from this year’s top animated films, along with film education study guides. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, Patagonia, Union Bank, Bentson Foundation, and 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, talent, and other professionals. Sponsored by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin.
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 virtual 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. Other program highlights include pitching sessions, table reads, guest speaker Q&As and film talks. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Productions.
Free Filmmaker Seminars – SBIFF will again present educational seminars with filmmakers premiering at this year’s festival. These seminars will be free to the public and will occur each weekday during the festival at Casa de la Guerra in downtown Santa Barbara just off the State Street Promenade.
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.
2022 Films
Folloiwing is the list of feature and short films at the 2022 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses and other special events, visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.
21 World Premiere Feature Films (listed alphabetically)
“1-800-HOT-NITE”
Directed by Nick Richey
United States
“After Sherman”
Directed by Jon Sesrie Goff
United States
“The Art of Rebellion”
Directed by Libby Spears
United States
“The Bastard King”
Directed by Owen Prümm
Austria, France, Germany
“Belle Vie”
Directed by Marcus Mizelle
United States
“Big Crow”
Directed by Kris Kaczor
United States
“Havana Libre”
Directed by Corey McLean
United States
“House of Darkness”
Directed by Neil LaBute
United States
“Juniper”
Directed by Katherine Dudas
United States
“Loren & Rose”
Directed by Russell Brown
United States
“On This Happy Note”
Directed by Tamar Tal Anati
Israel
“Only in Theaters”
Directed by Raphael Sbarge
United States
“Our Words Collide”
Directed by Jordan W. Barrow, Matt Edwards
United States
“Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest”
Directed by Nancy Svendsen
Nepal, United States
“Perejil (Parsley)”
Directed by José María Cabral
Dominican Republic
“Peter Case: A Million Miles Away”
Directed by Fred Parnes
United States
“A Place in the Field”
Directed by Nikki Mejia
United States
“Róise and Frank (Mo ghrá buan)”
Directed by Rachael Moriarty, Peter Murphy
Ireland
“Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic”
Directed by Maria Demeshkina Peek
United States
“Winter Ball”
Directed by Gardner Grady Hall
United States, Dominican Republic
“The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez”
Directed by Stacy Peralta
United States
62 U.S. Premiere Feature Films (listed alphabetically)
“9”
Directed by Martín Barrenechea, Nicolás Branca
Uruguay, Argentina
“All My Puny Sorrows”
Directed by Michael McGowan
Canada
“Apples and Oranges”
Directed by Yoav Brill
Israel
“Between Two Dawns (Iki safak arasinda)”
Directed by Selman Nacar
Turkey
“Cadejo Blanco”
Directed by Justin Lerner
Guatemala, USA, Mexico
“The Cloud & the Man (Manikbabur megh)”
Directed by Abhinandan Banerjee
India
“Daughters (Töchter)”
Directed by Nana Neul
Germany, Italy
“Dead Sea Guardians”
Directed by Ido Glass, Yoav Kleinman
Israel
“The Den (La tana)”
Directed by Beatrice Baldacci
Italy
“Drowning in Silence”
Directed by Chezik Tsunoda
United States
“Dug Dug”
Directed by Ritwik Pareek
India
“Eat Your Catfish”
Directed by Adam Isenberg, Noah Amir Arjomand, Senem Tüzen
Turkey, United States, Spain
“Everybody Dance”
Directed by Dan Watt
United States
“The Exam (Ezmûn)”
Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki
Germany, Iraq-Kurdistan, Qatar
“The Game (Igra)”
Directed by Ana Lazarevic
Serbia
“Geeta”
Directed by Emma Macey-Storch
India
“Hard Shell, Soft Shell”
Directed by Emma Benestan
France
“He’s My Brother (Skyggebarn)”
Directed by Cille Hannibal, Christine Hanberg
Denmark, Norway
“The Hive (La ruche)”
Directed by Christophe Hermans
Belgium
“Humanization (Förmänskligas)”
Directed by Giulio Musi
Sweden
“Jesús López”
Directed by Maximiliano Schonfeld
Argentina, France
“José Feliciano: Behind This Guitar”
Directed by Frank Licari, Helen Murphy
United States
“Judgment Call”
Directed by Saskia Diesing
Netherlands
“Juniper”
Directed by Matthew J. Saville
New Zealand
“La Chica Nueva (The New Girl)”
Directed by Micaela Gonzalo
Argentina
“La Hija (The Daughter)”
Directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca
Spain
“The Last Bath (O último banho)”
Directed by David Bonneville
Portugal
“The Last Tourist”
Directed by Tyson Sadler
Canada
“Learn to Swim”
Directed by Thyrone Tommy
Canada
“Little Palestine: Diary of a Siege”
Directed by Abdallah Al-Khatib
Lebanon, France, Qatar
“Looking for Horses”
Directed by Stefan Pavlović
Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France
“Mi Vacío y Yo (My Emptiness and I)”
Directed by Adrián Silvestre
Spain
“Miss Viborg”
Directed by Marianne Blicher
Denmark
“My Name Is Gulpilil”
Directed by Molly Reynolds
Australia
“Nasima (The Most Fearless)”
Directed by Heather Kessinger
United States, Bangladesh
“Nitram”
Directed by Justin Kurzel
Australia
“Nö”
Directed by
Dietrich Brüggemann
Germany
“Nowhere Special”
Directed by Uberto Pasolini
United Kingdom
“Orca”
Directed by Sahar Mossayebi
Iran, Qatar
“Paka (River of Blood)”
Directed by Nithin Lukose
India
“Paper City”
Directed by Adrian Francis
Australia, Japan
“Penelope, My Love (Pénélope mon amour)”
Directed by Claire Doyon
France
“The Phantom of the Open”
Directed by Craig Roberts
United Kingdom
“Private Desert (Deserto particular)”
Directed by Aly Muritiba
Brazil
“Pure White (Bembeyaz)”
Directed by Necip Çağhan Özdemir
Turkey
“Quake”
Directed by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir
Iceland
“Quickening”
Directed by Haya Waseem
Canada
“Quiet Freedom (Ein grosses versprechen)”
Directed by Wendla Nölle
Germany
“The Righteous”
Directed by Mark O’Brien
Canada
“The Road Dance”
Directed by Richie Adams
Scotland
“Roger Corman: The Pope of Pop Cinema”
Directed by Bertrand Tessier
France
“Ruby’s Choice”
Directed by Michael Budd
Australia
“Scarborough”
Directed by Shasha Nakhai, Rich Williamson
Canada
“Seven Dogs (Siete perros)”
Directed by Rodrigo Guerrero
Argentina
“Sheroes (À la vie)”
Directed by Aude Pépin
France
“Sisterhood (Sestri)”
Directed by Dina Duma
North Macedonia
“Small Body (Piccolo corpo)”
Directed by Laura Samani
Italy, France, Slovenia
“Sweet Disaster”
Directed by Laura Lehmus
Germany
“The Therapy”
Directed by Zvi Landsman
Israel
“Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash”
Directed by Edwin
Indonesia, Singapore, Germany
“Wild Roots”
Directed by Hajni Kis
Hungary, Slovakia
“You Resemble Me (Tu me ressembles)”
Directed by Dina Amer
Egypt, France, United States
Non Premeiere Feature Films (listed alphabetically)
“107 Mothers (Cenzorka)”
Directed by Péter Kerekes
Slovakia
“2nd Chance”
Directed by Ramin Bahrani
United States
“The 90s Club”
Directed by Robert Darwell
United States
“The Absent Director”
Directed by Arvand Dashtaray
Iran
“Atlas”
Directed by Niccolò Castelli
Switzerland
“Between Two Worlds (Ouistreham)”
Directed by Emmanuel Carrère
France
“The Big Bend”
Directed by Brett Wagner
United States
“Coextinction”
Directed by Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean
Canada
“Daughter of a Lost Bird”
Directed by Brooke Pepion Swaney
United States
“Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over”
Directed by Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner
United States
“Everything Went Fine (Tout s’est bien passé)”
Directed by François Ozon
France
“Exposure”
Directed by Holly Morris
United States
“Fanny: The Right to Rock”
Directed by Bobbi Jo Hart
Canada
“Film, the Living Record of Our Memory”
Directed by Inés Toharia Terán
Canada, Spain
“FireStorm ’77: The True Story of the Honda Canyon Fire”
Directed by Chris Hite, Dennis Ford
United States
“Fly So Far (Nuestra libertad)”
Directed by Celina Escher
El Salvador
“Free Chol Soo Lee”
Directed by Eugene Yi, Julie Ha
United States, South Korea
“From the Wild Sea (Fra det vilde hav)”
Directed by Robin Petré
Denmark, Ireland, England, the Netherlands
“Gods of Mexico”
Directed by Helmut Dosantos
Mexico
“The Good Boss (El buen patrón)”
Directed by Fernando León de Aranoa
Spain
“imperfect”
Directed by Brian Malone, Regan Linton
United States
“Islands”
Directed by Martin Edralin
Canada
“Mothering Sunday”
Directed by Eva Husson
United Kingdom
“Never Catch Pigeons: And Eleven More Hard Lessons from Mr. Paul Van Doren”
Directed by Doug Pray
United States
“Newtok”
Directed by Andrew Burton, Michael Kirby Smith
United States
“One Road to Quartzsite”
Directed by Ryan Maxey
United States
“Punch 9 for Harold Washington”
Directed by Joe Winston
United States
“Ricochet: The Path to Justice Is a Straight Line”
Directed by Jeff Adachi, Chihiro Wimbush
United States
“The Seeds of Vandana Shiva”
Directed by Camilla Becket, James Becket
Australia
“Sirens”
Directed by Rita Baghdadi
Lebanon
“Stranger’s Arms”
Directed by Emma Westenberg
United States
“The Taking”
Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe
United States
“Tigre Gente”
Directed by Elizabeth Unger
United States
“Trenches (Tranchées)”
Directed by Loup Bureau
France, Ukraine
“Tug of War (Vuta n’kuvute)”
Directed by Amil Shivji
Tanzania, South Africa, Germany, Qatar
“Ways of Being Home: Between Northfield & Maltrata”
Directed by Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo
United States
“Yuni”
Directed by Kamila Andini
Indonesia
2022 SBIFF Short Films – (listed alphabetically)
27 World Premieres, 33 U.S Premieres
“4 AM (Descente)”
Directed by Mehdi Fikri
US Premiere
France
“AIM”
Directed by Gazebo
US Premiere
Japan
“Bacon ‘N’ Laces”
Directed by Stephen Michael Simon
United States
“Bad Hombrewood”
Directed by Guillermo Casarín
World Premiere
United States
“Betsy & Irv”
Directed by Nicole Noren
World Premiere
United States
“Black Gold”
Directed by Sydney Bowie Linden
United States
“Black Like Plastic”
Directed by Graciella Cabello
World Premiere
United States
“Blood and Gold”
Directed by Yamin Tun
US Premiere
New Zealand
“Blue Cooler”
Directed by Laura Margulies
United States
“A Boat for My Mom (Un barco para mi mamá)”
Directed by Susana Canales Barrón
World Premiere
United States
“Broken: A Lockdown Story”
Directed by TJ O’Grady-Peyton
US Premiere
Ireland
“Building a Movement: 50 Years of Environmental Studies at UCSB”
Directed by Isaac Hernández de Lipa
World Premiere
United States
“California Natural by Martha Stoumen”
Directed by Lindsey Hagen
US Premiere
United States
“Chihuly: Roll the Dice”
Directed by Peter West
World Premiere
United States
“The Chrysalis”
Directed by Yago Hunt-Laudi
US Premiere
United States
“Clouds Pile Up On Clouds”
Directed by Benjamin David Hoffman
World Premiere
United States
“Conducting Life”
Directed by Diane Moore
United States
“Confusion Will Be My Epitaph”
Directed by Hadrien Maton, Coline Thelliez, Arnaud Mege, Benjamin Germe, Marine Beasse, Corentin Cormont
US Premiere
France
“did i look cuban then?”
Directed by María Alvarez
World Premiere
United States
“Electric Bodies (Les corps électriques)”
Directed by Antoine Janot
US Premiere
France
“Elevate”
Directed by Dylan Boom
World Premiere
United States
“The Event”
Directed by Frank Mosley, Hugo De Sousa
United States
“F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K”
Directed by Harris Doran
United States
“Finding Gulo”
Directed by Colin Arisman, Tyler Wilkinson-Ray
United States
“Freedom Swimmer”
Directed by Olivia Martin-McGuire
Australia, France
“Fresh to Frightening – The Sharon Green Story”
Directed by Gareth Kelly
World Premiere
United States
“Grandes Horizontales”
Directed by Leslie Zemeckis
World Premiere
United States
“The Great World of Gregory Blackstock”
Directed by Drew Christie
World Premiere
United States
“A Guitar in the Bucket”
Directed by Kim Bo Young
US Premiere
South Korea
“Hair Tie, Egg, Homework Books (Tou sheng, ji dan, zuo ye ben)”
Directed by Luo Runxiao
US Premiere
China
“Heartless”
Directed by Haukur Björgvinsson
US Premiere
Iceland
“Holy Care (Corpo e aria)”
Directed by Cristian Patanè
US Premiere
Italy
“In the Woods (U šumi)”
Directed by Sara Grgurić
US Premiere
Croatia
“An Irish Goodbye”
Directed by Tom Berkeley, Ross White
US Premiere
Ireland
“Kids of Paradise”
Directed by Mo Sha
US Premiere
China
“Kim’s”
Directed by Mijin Han
World Premiere
United States
“Kinka”
Directed by Maider Oleaga
US Premiere
Spain
“Kissy and the Shark”
Directed by Lola Blanche
World Premiere
United States
“Kurosawa’s Grave”
Directed by Ben Lopez
World Premiere
United States
“Lalito 10”
Directed by Jordan Matthew Horowitz
World Premiere
United States
“Las Mariposas: How Three Sisters Defied a Dictator”
Directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
US Premiere
Dominican Republic, United States
“Letters From a Traveler”
Directed by Benjamin David Hoffman
World Premiere
United States
“Lodo”
Directed by Alessandro Gentile
World Premiere
United States
“Love, Barbara”
Directed by Brydie O’Connor
World Premiere
United States
“Loving”
Directed by Matt Hamilton
World Premiere
United States
“Message of an Endless Night (Mensagem de uma noite sem fim)”
Directed by Tiago Minamisawa, Barcabogante
US Premiere
Brazil
“Miika”
Directed by Shevon Nsiimenta
Uganda
“My Duduś”
Directed by Tom Krawczyk
United States
“Night of the Living Dread”
Directed by Ida Melum
US Premiere
United Kingdom
“No Ghost in the Morgue (Pas de fantôme à la morgue)”
Directed by Marilyn Cooke
World Premiere
Canada
“Nobody’s Boy (Niño de nadie)”
Directed by Joe Perry
World Premiere
United States
“The Ocean Solution”
Directed by Darcy Hennessey Turenne
US Premiere
United States
“The Originals”
Directed by Cristina Costantini, Alfie Koetter
World Premiere
United States
“The Pastor’s Wife (Pastorin vaimo)”
Directed by Arttu Kapulainen
US Premiere
Finland
“Sauerdogs”
Directed by Guillermo de Oliveira
World Premiere
Spain
“The Sentence of Michael Thompson”
Directed by Kyle Thrash, Haley Elizabeth Anderson
World Premiere
United States
“The Shaman’s Apprentice (Angakusajaujuq)”
Directed by Zacharias Kunuk
US Premiere
Canada
“She Dreams at Sunrise”
Directed by Camrus Johnson
United States
“Something Like Night (Algo así como la noche)”
Directed by Alván Prado
US Premiere
Spain
“Sonder”
Directed by Joey Szalkiewicz
World Premiere
United States
“Sound of the Night (Somleng reatrey)”
Directed by Chanrado Sok, Kongkea Vann
US Premiere
Cambodia
“Starfuckers”
Directed by Antonio Marziale
United States
“Successful Thawing of Mr. Moro”
Directed by Jerry Carlsson
US Premiere
Sweden
“Summer of Bees (Mehiläiskesä)”
Directed by Ida-Maria Olva
US Premiere
Finland
“Tank Fairy”
Directed by Erich Rettstadt
US Premiere
Taiwan, United States
“Techno, Mama”
Directed by Saulius Baradinskas
US Premiere
Lithuanian
“There are Bunnies on Fire in the Forest”
Directed by JLee MacKenzie
United States
“Trimmed”
Directed by Yuyao Zhuo
US Premiere
China
“Turbulences”
Directed by Morgan Maassen
World Premiere
United States
“Unearthed”
Directed by Colin Rosemont
United States
“Victor’s Body (O que pode um corpo?)”
Directed by Victor Di Marco, Márcio Picoli
US Premiere
Brazil
“What Remains (O que resta)”
Directed by Daniel Soares
Portugal
“What They’ve Been Taught (ᎤᏕᏲᏅ )”
Directed by Brit Hensel
United States
“White Devil”
Directed by Mariama Diallo, Benjamin Dickinson
US Premiere
United States
“Women of Virtue (Les vertueuses)”
Directed by Stéphanie Halfon
US Premiere
France
“You’re Dead Helen (T’es morte Hélène)”
Directed by Michiel Blanchart
France, Belgium
“Zafar”
Directed by Aqsa Altaf, John X. Carey
US Premiere
United States