Festivals - SBIFF 2021 : A great program

By Mulder, 09 march 2021

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by UGG®, announced today the highly anticipated lineup for the 36th edition, which will run March 31 to April 10, 2021. The festival will feature 47 world premieres and 37 U.S. premieres from 45 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.

The festival will take on an entirely new look this year, as well, with the build-out of two state-of-the-art, beachside drive-in theaters sponsored by Toyota Mirai, where every film screening will be offered to the community for free, alongside a ticketed online component that will feature the entire film program in addition to SBIFF’s notable celebrity tributes, industry panels, and filmmaker Q&As.

SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling stated this morning, “This year’s Festival will look different on many fronts, but we are unchanged when it comes to what’s most important: our love of film, and our dedication to bringing forward a program of unmatched quality and sharing it with our community. We are so excited to have the opportunity to be a source of joy and optimism.”

Opening Night :
SBIFF 2021 will start with the Opening Night Film, presented by UGG, on Wednesday, March 31, online and at both Drive-in theatres with the WORLD Premiere of Invisible Valley directed by Aaron Maurer. Invisible valley skillfully weaves together the seemingly disparate stories of undocumented farmworkers, wealthy snowbirds, and music festival-goers over the course of a year in California's Coachella Valley. The intimate, on-the-ground profiles drive home the incongruity of the lifestyles that coexist in an affluent community. In exploring the history of the region as well as its future, the film uncovers an undercurrent of a looming ecological crisis threatening it all.

Closing night :
For our Closing Night Film on Saturday, April 10, we put the spotlight on Santa Barbara to highlight a series of short documentaries by local filmmakers. This distinctive selection of films covers a range of iconic people and places in the Santa Barbara area including the Chumash people’s annual trip to their historical village site, one woman’s journey to restore ecosystems with her flock of sheep, a local musician who received care and support from Hospice of Santa Barbara, the story of a community surviving 2020 through outdoor dancing, an artist who specializes in miniature diorama art, and a celebrated local roller-skating icon who sparked a community group known as the SB Rollers.

The Tributes
SBIFF has become an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 36th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be online live-streamed.
- Bill Murray will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award on Friday, April 2 at 6:00pm, moderated by Leonard Maltin.
- The Virtuosos Award, presented by UGG®, will be awarded to Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Sidney Flanigan (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian), and Zendaya (Malcolm & Marie) on Saturday, April 3 at 6:00pm, moderated by Dave Karger.
- Carey Mulligan will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award on Monday, April 5 at 2:00pm.
- The Variety Artisans Awards, sponsored by Variety, will take place on Monday, April 5 at 6:00pm. Honorees to be announced.
- The Outstanding Directors of the Year Award, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, will be Tuesday, April 6 at 6:00pm. Honorees to be announced.
- Sacha Baron Cohen will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award on Wednesday, April 7 at 6:00pm.
- Delroy Lindo will receive the American Riviera Award on Thursday, April 8 at 6:00pm.
- Amanda Seyfried will receive the Montecito Award on Friday, April 8 at 6:00pm.

The Panels :
SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar contenders. Returning will be our annual Producers Panel, Writers Panel, and Women’s Panel. All panels will be online live-streamed. Date/Time/Panelists to be announced.

Educational programs, free programs, and other mentions
- Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies – Named for renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies uses filmmaking to stimulate creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. This year’s Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies Program will be offered to 5,000-6,000 underserved and low-income 4th--6th grade students from Title I schools throughout Santa Barbara County. This year’s program will include to-be-announced critically acclaimed films. SBIFF will provide classrooms with a virtual introduction to the art of filmmaking and storytelling through recorded discussions with the filmmakers and artisans from three of this year's top animated films, along with film education study guides and activities. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, Patagonia, Union Bank, and Volentine Family Foundation.
- Film Studies Program – Returning for its seventh year, the national student Film Studies Program will virtually host 30 undergraduate film students from across the country to attend the Film Festival and take part in a packed curriculum that turns the festival into an interactive classroom. Participants receive priority access to the films, SBIFF’s acclaimed Panel Series, filmmaker seminars, Tributes, as well as intimate Q&As with filmmakers, talent, and other professionals. SBIFF also invites an additional thirty college students in Santa Barbara to take an 11-Day Film Festival course through Santa Barbara City College. 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 high school and college screenwriters and filmmakers from Santa Barbara. This year’s program includes virtual workshops and mentorship, with each participant being paired with an industry mentor specifically assigned to them in addition to a Casting, Visual Effects, Producing and Sound Mentor who are there to mentor the students throughout their production process. The 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&A’s and film talks. Sponsored by Final Draft Inc.
- 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 take place online daily during the Festival.
- 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."

Below is the list of feature and short films at the 2021 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.

22 World Premiere Feature Films (listed alphabetically)
- Addict Named Hal (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Lane Michael Stanley
- Alaskan Nets (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Jeff Harasimowicz
- Broken Diamonds (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Peter Sattler
- The Cinderella Addiction (Japan) (World Premiere) - Directed by Ryohei Watanabe
- Cinema of Sleep (Canada) (World Premiere) - Directed by Jeffrey St. Jules
- Climb (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Neil Myers
- The Conservation Game (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Michael Webber
- Coast (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Jessica Hester, Derek Schweickart
- Daughters of the Waves (France) (World Premiere) - Directed by Lisa Monin, Sébastien Daguerressar
- Evan Wood (USA) (World Premiere) Directed by Niki Byrne
- Highway One (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Jaclyn Bethany
- The Hosts (Os donos da casa) (Brazil) (World Premiere) - Directed by Carla Dauden
- Invisible Valley (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Aaron Maurer
- The Knot (Uljhan) (India) (World Premiere) - Directed by Ashish Pant
- La Recua - The Mule Pack Train (USA, Mexico) (World Premiere) - Directed by Darío Higuera Meza, Trudi Angell
- Last Call (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Johnny Sweet
- Reclaim Idaho (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Laura Wing-Kamoosi, Jim Kamoosi
- The Revolution Generation (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Josh Tickell, Rebecca Tickell
- $avvy (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Robin Hauser
- Snakehead (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Evan Jackson Leong
- Trees of Peace (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Alanna Brown
- We Burn Like This (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Alana Waksman

29 U.S. Premiere feature films (listed alphabetically)
- Akilla's Escape (Canada) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Charles Officer
- Baby (Spain) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Juanma Bajo Ulloa
- Backyard Village (Iceland) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Marteinn Thórsson
- A Bruddah's Mind (Cabeça de nêgo) (Brazil) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Déo Cardoso
- By Your Side (À la folie) (France) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Audrey Estrougo
- Erna at War (Erna i krig) (Denmark, Estonia, Belgium) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Henrik Ruben Genz
- Fear (Strah) (Bulgaria) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Ivaylo Hristov
- Fellinopolis (Italy) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Silvia Giulietti
- The Flood Won't Come (Tvano nebus) (Lithuania) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Marat Sargsyan
- The Forbidden Strings (Iran, Afghanistan, Qatar) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Hasan Noori
- Fortitude (La fortaleza) (Venezuela, Colombia, France, Netherlands) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Jorge Thielen Armand
- Four Mothers (Israel) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Dana Keidar Levin, Rephael Levin
- The Ghosts (Los fantasmas) (Guatemala, Argentina) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Sebastián Lojo
- Karnawal (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Juan Pablo Félix
- Ladies Of Steel (Finland) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Pamela Tola
- The Last Ones (Viimeiset) (Finland, Estonia, Netherlands) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Veiko Õunpuu
- Listen, Portugal (UK) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Ana Rocha de Sousa
- The Man with the Answers (Cyprus, Greece, Italy) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Stelios Kammitsis
- Mirage (Miraggio) (Switzerland) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Nina Stefanka
- My First Summer (Australia) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Katie Found
- One-Way to Moscow (Switzerland) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Micha Lewinsky
- The Pit (Bedre) (Latvia, Finland) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Dace P?ce
- Poppie Nongena (South Africa) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Christiaan Olwagen
- Run Woman Run (Canada) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Zoe Hopkins
- Six Angry Women (New Zealand) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Megan Jones
- Teach Me if You Can (France) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Émilie Thérond
- Under My Skin (Australia) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by David O'Donnell
- We Will Never Die (Argentina) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Eduardo Crespo
- When I'm Done Dying (Turkey, USA, Germany) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Nisan Da?

2021 SBIFF feature films (non-premieres listed alphabetically)
- American Skin (USA) - Directed by Nate Parker
- Giants Being Lonely (USA ) - Directed by Grear Patterson
- Hope (Norway) - Directed by Maria Sødahl

2021 SBIFF Shorts - (listed alphabetically) (25 World Premieres and 8 U.S. Premieres)
- Anxious (USA) - Directed by Anthony Gilbert
- Anything for You (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Matt Ferrucci
- The Beast of Our Time (USA) (World Premiere)
- The Beauty President (USA) - Directed by Whitney Skauge
- Becoming Eddie (USA) - Directed by Lilan Bowden
- Black Boys Can't Cry (USA) - Directed by Victor Gabriel
- Bobby (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Henry Burge
- Can't Have It Both Ways (USA) - Directed by Morningstar Angeline
- The Carousel (Italy) - Directed by Valerio Berruti
- Clara With a Mustache (Kosovo) (World Premiere) - Directed by Ilir Blakcori
- A Critter Fable (USA) - Directed by Grace Fisher
- Cycles (USA) - Directed by Jonathan Barenboim
- Dia De Los Muertos (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by George Ortega, Ricardo Ortega
- Dis-Dance! (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Michael Love
- East-West (Poland) (World Premiere) - Directed by Natalia Koniarz
- Electric Lady (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Casey McGarry
- Eyes (USA) - Directed by Zachary Goodwin, Flynn Harris, Alex Flanagan, Alex Kumph
- First Light (USA) - Directed by Amy Lee Ketchum
- Gratified (USA) - Directed by Leslie Hope
- The Great Malaise (Canada) - Directed by Amy Catherine Lepage
- Heartland (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Jahmil Eady
- Homecoming: Journey to Limuw (USA) - Directed by Nick Zachar
- Hospice of Santa Barbara Presents: Manuel's Story (USA) - Directed by Greg Kroes
- I, Barnabé (Canada) - Directed by Jean-François Lévesque
- Identibye (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Sajjad Shahhatami
- In White Places (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Brian Keith Powell
- Kaizo (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Jeremy Lethco
- Kapaemahu (USA) - Directed by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson
- Keeping the Sport Alive (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Will Hahn
- Keiara (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Floyd Russ
- The Kicksled Choir (Norway) - Directed by Torfinn Iversen
- Language of Dreams (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Peter Sasowsky
- The Last Ferry from Grass Island (Hong Kong) - Directed by Linhan Zhang
- Lion on the Mat (USA) - Directed by Asali Echols
- Lucky (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Phinehas L Hodges
- Malakout (Iran) - Directed by Farnoosh Abedi
- Man with a Broom (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Joel Rader, Lydia Leiber, Caroline Nouhan
- A Man with Emotions (USA) - Directed by Miki Inoguchi
- Mariah: A Boxer’s Dream (USA) - Directed by Nina Meredith
- The Mechanical Dancer (USA) - Directed by Jenna Jaillet
- Mrs. Taylor’s Show & Tell - A Prince Story (USA) - Directed by Victor Dean
- My Father The Mover (South Africa) - Directed by Julia Jansch
- Nickel in the Sand (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Mike Winger
- Nine (USA) - Directed by Jane Musky
- Not One More (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Cameron Leingang
- Ocean Stories: Michele's Magic Carpet Ride (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Patrick Creadon, Greg Goggin
- Pant Hoot (USA) - Directed by Richard Reens
- Project H (France) - Directed by Maharaki
- Remisivir (Romania) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Bobby Barbacioru
- River Tigers: Giant Taimen of the Russian Far East (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Andy Maser, Adam Bagger
- Roy (UK) (World Premiere) - Directed by Tom Berkeley, Ross White
- Safe (US) (World Premiere) - Directed by Josema Roig
- Savior (USA) - Directed by Christopher Oroza-Nostas
- Shadow Of The Fox (US) (World Premiere) - Directed by Nooshin Meraji
- Shepherd's Song (USA ) - Directed by Abby Fuller
- Sperm (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Kirsten Kearse
- Stoke Chasers (USA) - Directed by Jo Anna Edmison
- Stormy and the Admirals (USA) - Directed by Dan Rybicky
- Subtle Body (USA) (U.S. Premiere) - Directed by Robin Bisio
- Sunshine In The Rain (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Benny Chen
- Sweet Dreams (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Navid Saedi
- Tristo (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Ryan Oligmueller
- Underdogs (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Alex Astrella
- The Unknown (UK) - Directed by Stephanie Marshall
- Vial (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Sonja O'Hara, Micah Stuart
- Vuja De (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Casey McGarry
- Waking Up (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by James Patrick Nelson
- Wally Wenda (USA) - Directed by Diane Russo
- When It's Late (USA) (World Premiere) - Directed by Mitch Hadley
- The Winter (Australia) - Directed by Xin Li

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 36 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film. Sponsors of the 36th SBIFF include: UGG, Manitou Fund, Toyota Mirai, Netflix, City of Santa Barbara, Montecito Bank & Trust, Union Bank, ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, SEE International, Patagonia, Bentson Foundation, Lynda Weinman & Bruce Heavin, Volentine Family Foundation, California Arts Council and many more supporting through trade. SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community throughout many free educational programs and events. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.

(Source : press release)