Two massive high-resolution screens have popped up along the palm tree-lined parking lots at Santa Barbara City College.
The 36th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run from Wednesday through April 10, is hosting free in-person screenings of about 80 films at two beachfront drive-in theaters.
SBIFF’s drive-in theaters are located at the SBCC lower parking lots, 140 Loma Alta Drive in Santa Barbara.
Festival organizers said attendees should arrive by turning onto Loma Alta from Shoreline Drive near Santa Barbara’s waterfront.
There are about 50 parking spots at each drive-in theater, and the new LED screens are visible in the day or night.
The film lineup includes the festival’s opening-night headliner, director Aaron Maurer’s world premiere of “Invisible Valley,” and the closing-night film that will highlight a series of short documentaries by local filmmakers.
Moviegoers will be required to make a reservation for each film before arrival, and online reservations will open at 8 a.m. the day before each show. Only one reservation is needed per vehicle, according to SBIFF.
For a full schedule or to make a reservation, visit https://sbiff.org/drivein/.
Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and admission for those with reservations will begin 45 minutes before each film’s start time.
Reservations will become void 20 minutes before each film’s start time, the SBIFF website states, and admission will then be on a first-come, first-served basis.
“If you arrive without a reservation prior to 20 minutes before show time, there is no staging area,” the SBIFF states. “You will be required to drive around the block and get in the back of the line.”
Parking spaces are not assigned, except for select SBIFF patrons and sponsors.
Attendees are advised to bring their own food and drinks, and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises during the screenings. There will not be a concession stand at the drive-ins.
Attendees must stay in their vehicles at all times except to use the restroom. People who are outside of their vehicle must follow social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings that cover both the mouth and nose, according to SBIFF.
The drive-in events are in partnership with Toyota Mirai.
In addition to the drive-in theaters, this year’s SBIFF will feature celebrity tributes, industry panel discussions, pre-recorded question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers, and free community education and outreach programs.
The festival will offer a ticketed virtual component that will include the film program of 47 world premieres and 37 U.S. premieres from 45 countries.
Click here for more information about the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.