Last night’s red carpet event could have been something written in a movie.  Our Modern Master had a local driver drop him off at the award ceremony.  With fans filling the streets and ticket holders wrapped around the block, red carpet access was limited to say the least.  So limited in fact, that when I arrived there was nary a sliver of space to even sneak through, which made Mr. Eastwood’s entrance all the more incredible.   As the festival powers-that-be, press and fans waited ...

Multiple Academy Award® winning director, producer, actor and composer Clint Eastwood has been selected to receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s highest honor, The Lucky Brand® Modern Master Award, it was announced by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Tribute will take place on Thursday, January 29, at the historic Arlington Theatre.The Lucky Brand® Modern Master Award is the highest honor presented by SBIFF. Established in 1995, it was created to honor an indivi...

The 24th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF)presents its film line-up for 2009, featuring over 200 films including 21 World Premieres, 29 U.S. Premieres and a rich selection of films representing 41 countries. The Festival takes place over 11 days beginning Thursday, January 22, through Sunday, February 1, 2009.“For the past 24 years the film festival’s goal has been to bring the best of world cinema to light in Santa Barbara,” commented SBIFF Director, Roger D...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is thrilled to welcome back five-time Academy Award nominee Kate Winslet by honoring her with the Montecito Award. Having previously received the Performance of the Year Award in 2005, Winslet returns to the hallowed halls of the Arlington Theatre on Friday, January 23, becoming the festival’s first two-time honoree. “I have had a cinematic crush on Kate Winslet since her first movie,” gushed SBIFF Director Roger Durling. “She's my...

Clint Eastwood has been selected to receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s highest honor, The Modern Master Award, it was announced by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Tribute will take place on Thursday, January 29, at the historic Arlington Theatre.The Modern Master Award is the highest honor presented by SBIFF. Established in 1995, it was created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through his/her accomplishments in the motion picture industry. ...

It was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, that Mickey Rourke, star of the upcoming “The Wrestler,” will be honored with the American Riviera Award on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Fox Searchlight Pictures will release the film, directed by Darren Aronofsky, in select theaters on December 17th. Past recipients include Tommy Lee Jones, Forrest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. “Amer...

  The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is proud to honor Penélope Cruz with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 24th edition of the Fest, which runs January 22-February 1, 2009, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. Cruz, who returned to theaters this summer with two powerful and diverse back-to-back performances in "Elegy" opposite Sir Ben Kingsley and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," opposite Javi...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is proud to honor Penélope Cruz with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 24th edition of the Fest, which runs January 22-February 1, 2009, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.Cruz, who returned to theaters this summer with two powerful and diverse back-to-back performances in “Elegy” opposite Sir Ben Kingsley and Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” opposite Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johans...

I have to blog and write reviews and festival experiences so my way of making it through the theaters, award ceremonies and parties is by not drinking at the festival parties. Well, some people are a bad influence. Take blogger Craig Smith for example, now he’s a bad influence. Both of us were at the intimate, post-Javier Bardem tribute party at the Sacks Fifth Avenue Store. No red wine was served, but there was plenty of white, along with vodka-enhanced mixed drinks. There was no shopping to ...

The 23rd installment of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) presents its film line-up for 2008, featuring 215 films including 20 World Premieres, 22 U.S. Premieres and a rich selection of films representing 49 countries. The Festival takes place over 11 days beginning Thursday, January 24, through Sunday, February 3.“The Festival has continuously grown in stature,” commented SBIFF Director Roger Durling, “and this year’s film slate certainly reflects that. We’re ver...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor Javier Bardem at the 23rd edition of the Fest with the Montecito Award, which runs January 24-February 3, 2008, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.Bardem, whose performance in “No Country for Old Men” has already garnered him accolades, will be presented with the Montecito Award on Monday, January 28, at the Lobero Theatre. Bardem plays the chilling and offbeat villain Anton Chigurh who flips coins f...

CA- Academy Award® and three-time Golden Globe winner Angelina Jolie will be honored on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the 23rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival with the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award for her critically acclaimed performance in “A Mighty Heart”, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. Past recipients include Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger and Helen Mirren for her performance in “The Queen.” Based on the bestselling book b...

Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett has been selected to receive the 2008 Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Modern Master Award on Saturday, January 26, 2008, it was announced by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. Blanchett is one of the most gifted performers working today. She possesses an innate intelligence and ability to adapt completely to her characters, making her one of Hollywood’s most respected and revered talents.  She developed her talent at a young age,...

Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett has been selected to receive the 2008 Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Modern Master Award on Saturday, January 26, 2008, it was announced by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.Blanchett is one of the most gifted performers working today. She possesses an innate intelligence and ability to adapt completely to her characters, making her one of Hollywood’s most respected and revered talents. She developed her talent at a young age, w...

The 2007 Santa Barbara International Film Festival announces their slate of films for the 22nd installment. The festival, which welcomes Chrysler and The New Yorker as Premiere Sponsors, takes place over 11 days beginning Thursday, January 25, through Sunday, February 4, and will feature 22 World Premieres, 18 US Premieres, and introduce films from 40 countries. “This is the most ambitious and most diverse line up of events and films the Festival has ever had,” commented SBIFF Director Ro...

Jeff Margolis, executive producer and director of the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, has announced the creative team for this year’s Actors® honors. Many of the talented producers and artists behind the 12th Annual SAG Awards™ are returning to create this year’s ceremonies, joined by two new film segment producers.Nominations for the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 6:05 am PT / 9:05 am ET at the Pacific Design Center in West Holl...

Dame Helen Mirren will be honored with a tribute and receive the award for Outstanding Performance of the Year for her role in “The Queen” at the upcoming 22nd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.Dame Helen Mirren will be honored on Friday, January 26th in recognition of her portrayal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in this year’s acclaimed film “The Queen,” directed by Stephen Frears. “The Queen” is an intimate behind-the-scenes glimpse at the interaction between H...

SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SET TO RUN JANUARY 25-FEBURARY 4Will Smith, multifaceted actor, producer and writer, will be this year’s recipient of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Modern Master Award, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.Smith has the distinction of being a cross-generational draw as well as being able to break through various genres of films. Having first endeared himself as a fresh new artist in TV’s “Fresh Princ...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced today the lineup of honorees for the 21st annual Fest, February 2-12, 2006. Actors Philip Seymour Hoffman, Naomi Watts, and Heath Ledger will be honored at this year’s Fest. Also set to be recognized for his achievements in nature filmmaking is James Cameron. As previously announced, George Clooney will be the recipient of the Modern Master Award.Philip Seymour Hoffman will receive “The Riviera Award,” an award the Santa Barbara In...

PETER JACKSON TO RECEIVE MODERN MASTER AWARD AT 19th SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALThe Santa Barbara International Film Festival will present this year's Modern Master Award to the director/producer/writer of the "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy, Peter Jackson, it was announced today by Festival Director, Roger Durling. Says Durling, "When I first came on board, I was asked who would be my choice for Modern Master. I could think of only one name that perfectly exemplified a Modern Master ...