 Sandra Bullock receives the American Riviera Award
The American Riviera Award, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, was established to recognize an actor who has had a strong influence on American Cinema. Bullock will join an illustrious group of past recipients: Mickey Rourke (09), Tommy Lee Jones (08), Forrest Whitaker (07), Philip Seymour Hoffman (06), Kevin Bacon (05) and Diane Lane (04). Continue reading about Sandra Bullock.
Colin Firth: Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Man
By Madelyn Ritrosky. If someone had asked me what actor I would like to see in person and honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Colin Firth would have been at the top of my list. Well, nobody asked me, of course, but the stars aligned and British actor Colin Firth was given the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award at the 2010 SBIFF. Read more of Madelyn's indepth coverage.
Colin, Crows, and Cameron: SBIFF 2010
When Jared and I attend the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, it’s always a mix of shorts and features, animated and live action, special and competition screenings, award events and movies, well-known and unknown filmmakers, fiction films and documentaries. Continue reading Madelyn's review of the 2010 SBIFF.
Jared’s Choices: SBIFF 2010
Jared reviews several fims at this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Read Jared''s reviews of SBIFF 2010.
Kathryn Bigelow named Outstanding Director of the Year
As a writer, director, producer, Bigelow has created some of the most action-packed and intense subject matter films for the last two decades.
Her films include Near Dark, Point Break, Strange Days and this year's highly- touted drama The Hurt Locker, to just name a few. Continue reading about Kathryn Bigelow.
Photo: SBIFF's Outstanding Director of the Year was Kathryn Bigelow, who was interviewed on stage at the Lobero Theatre. Photos by Madelyn Ritrosky.
Quentin Terantino special showing of Kirk Douglas "Posse"
Academy Award-winning writer/director/producer/actor Quentin Tarantino will preside over a special presentation of POSSE, the feature film starring Kirk Douglas, Bruce Dern, Bo Hopkins, James Stacy and David Canary on Sunday, February 7 at 1:30 pm at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Douglas also directed the film. Following the screening, Tarantino will moderate a Q&A session with Douglas for the audience.
Posse was released in 1975. Douglas starred as Howard Nightingale, a United States Marshal hunting down an outlaw so as to further his political career. Organizing a posse to catch infamous bank robber, Jack Strawhorn (Bruce Dern), Nightingale ends up with the tables turned on him as the cunning criminal gets the upper hand and holds him hostage instead. The only way for the posse to pay the $40,000 ransom in order to free Nightingale is by becoming bank robbers themselves.
Tarantino was the recipient of last October's Fourth Annual KIRK DOUGLAS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM. At the black-tie gala in Santa Barbara, Tarantino shared with the audience how that film (Posse) had a strong influence on his becoming a filmmaker.
FLYING LESSONS Honored With Opening Night for SBIFF Silver Anniversary
Derek Magyar's feature film debut "Flying Lessons" has been selected as the coveted Opening Night Film for the 25th Anniversary of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival which runs February 4-14, 2010.
This World Premiere Film touts a stellar cast which includes Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Christine Lahti, Screen Actors Guild Awards recipient Maggie Grace ("Lost"), Young Hollywood Award winner Jonathan Tucker ("In the Valley of Elah"), critically acclaimed veteran actor Cary Elwes ("A Christmas Carol"), Golden Globe winner Joanna Cassidy ("Buffalo Bill") and Emmy- and Tony-Award winning actor Hal Holbrook ("Into the Wild").
"Flying Lessons" is the intimate story of a 25 year old young woman (Grace) forced to abandon her self- destructive and empty life in L.A. to return to her home town and estranged mother (Lahti). There she is forced to face the relationships she left behind and the memories that go with them - all the while befriending an elderly man (Holbrook) who teaches her the value of the present which allows her to come to terms with her past.
"I am truly honored and humbled to have my directorial debut premiere as the opening night gala for SBIFF," says Magyar. "Not only is Flying Lessons a perfect fit for this festival, but the fact that we shot the entire movie in Santa Ynez Valley, makes it feel like we've come full circle."
Flying Lessons is directed by Derek Magyar from a screenplay by Thomas J. Kuehl. The film stars Maggie Grace, Christine Lahti, Cary Elwes, Jonathan Tucker, Michael O'Neill, Joanna Cassidy, Rick Gonzalez, Nikki Deloach and Hal Holbrook. Chris Carter ("X-Files") and Mark Johnson ("Chronicles of Narnia") executive produced and Magyar produced along with Jenny Hinkey ("Boy Culture"). Thomas Kuehl served as co-producer.
Photo: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) presents the Modern Master Award to James Cameron
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Modern Master Award recipient James Cameron.
Film critic Leonard Maltin interviewed James Cameron on stage for the Modern Master Award.
Julianne Moore was given the SBIFF's Montecito Award.
Colin Firth received the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award for A Single Man.
For Jeff Bridges Day, an on-stage Q&A with the actor and local resident followed a screening of Crazy Heart.
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Sometimes a short film is so long on style and fun that you wish it was long on running time as well. Alas, the short film Smoke Rings, which premiered at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is less than five minutes long. But it is a thoroughly enjoyable tribute to the comedians of the silent screen. Continue reading about the interview with 
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival