The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced today the highly anticipated lineup for the 39th edition, which will run February 7 to 17, 2024. The festival will showcase 45 world premieres and 77 U.S. premieres from 48 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
“We have a wonderfully eclectic program this year from 48 countries around the world,” said Claudia Puig, Programming Director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. “We are especially proud that half of our slate of films are directed by women, and a large percentage by under-represented filmmakers. We know there will be something for everyone at our festival– and likely quite a lot for most. Nearly three-quarters of the films we’re showcasing have never been seen before in the US. We’re excited to introduce these films to audiences and thrilled that filmmakers from nearly every continent will be on hand to meet those attending SBIFF, and share in the communal love of film.”
OPENING NIGHT
SBIFF 2024 will kick off on Opening Night Wednesday, February 7 with the World Premiere of the documentary MADU directed by Matt Ogens and Joel ‘Kachi Benson. Both directors will be joining us in-person.
From practicing barefoot on the streets of Lagos to performing on stage in England, twelve-year-old Anthony Madu leaves his home in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world. Anthony, who had barely left his neighborhood in Lagos, finds himself thrust into a new world where his wildest dream is suddenly within reach. His journey is a story of extraordinary obstacles, courage, growth, and ultimately, his search for belonging.
CLOSING NIGHT
SBIFF 2024 will close on Saturday, February 17 with the World Premiere of CHOSEN FAMILY directed by Heather Graham and starring Heather Graham, Julia Stiles, Thomas Lennon, and Michael Gross. Director and cast will be joining us in-person.
Yoga teacher Ann is trying to find inner peace despite having a manic family, a miserable dating life, and an inability to say no that keeps her busy trying to fix everyone else’s problems.
THE TRIBUTES
SBIFF is an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 39th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre.
- Outstanding Performer of the Year Award sponsored by Deadline honoring Bradley Cooper – Thursday, February 8 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
- Maltin Modern Master Award Presented by Manitou Fund honoring Robert Downey Jr. – Friday, February 9 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.
- Virtuosos Award honoring Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Colman Domingo (The Color Purple & Rustin), America Ferrera (Barbie), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Charles Melton (May December), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), and Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) – Saturday, February 10 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Dave Karger.
- Variety Artisans Award sponsored by Variety – Sunday, February 11 at 11:00am. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
- American Riviera Award honoring Mark Ruffalo – Sunday, February 11 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Anne Thompson.
- Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter – Monday, February 12 at 8:00pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
- Montecito Award honoring Jeffrey Wright – Thursday, February 15 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Roger Durling.
- Cinema Vanguard Award honoree and date to be announced
THE PANELS
SBIFF is 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, Writers, Women’s and International Panels. All Panels will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre. Panelists, dates and times to be announced.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MENTIONS
SBIFF Poster Designed by Acclaimed Artist Angela Perko
The 2024 SBIFF poster was painted by acclaimed artist and Santa Barbara resident Angela Perko. Like many women artists, Angela started painting later in life, after her children were older and the family business was well established. Angela and her husband own a rare bookstore, and she credits exposure to art books for sparking her interest in painting. Although she studied plein-air painting with Santa Barbara artist Michael Drury, she is essentially a self taught artist. The Canadian Group of Seven greatly influenced her early work, as well as many of the Santa Fe artists. A trip to the Yucatán had profound impact and motifs of ancient art and popular Mexican art began to appear in her work. Currently her work explores where nature and culture intersect over time and place.
Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies – Named for renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies uses filmmaking to nurture creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. This year’s program will be offered to 4,000+ 4th–6th grade students from Title I (low-income) schools throughout Santa Barbara County. This year will feature two in-person Q&As; Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers following SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE and Director Peter Sohn following ELEMENTAL. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, US Bank, Yardi, Bentson Foundation, 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.
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 filmmaking 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. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Productions.
Free Filmmaker Seminars – SBIFF will again present seminars with filmmakers premiering at this year’s festival. These seminars will be FREE to the public and will take place on each weekday during the Festival at Tamsen Gallery at 911 1/2 State Street.
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.
The ASC Award for Cinematography sponsored by The American Society of Cinematographers has been added to the list of SBIFF’s 2024 awards and will recognize a film with exceptional visual composition that advances the art and science of cinematography and promotes the motion picture as an art form.
2024 FILMS
Below is the list of feature and short films at the 2024 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.
19 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
76 Days
Directed by Joe Wein
United States
Alien Contact
Directed by Rick Rosenthal
United States
Art and Life: The Story of Jim Phillips
Directed by John Edward Makens
Books & Drinks
Directed by Geoffrey Cowper
Dominican Republic
Chosen Family
Directed by Heather Graham
United States
Dandelions
Directed by Basil Mironer
United States
Diving into the Darkness
Directed by Nays Baghai
Australia
Electra
Directed by Hala Matar
Bahrain
The Fight for Black Lives
Directed by Micere Keels
United States
Giants Rising
Directed by Lisa Landers
United States
God & Country
Directed by Dan Partland
United States
Lili
Directed by Sylwia Rosak
Poland
The Long Game
Directed by Jace Anderson
United States
Madu
Directed by Matt Ogens, Joel ‘Kachi Benson
United States, Nigeria, United Kingdom
The Movie Man
Directed by Matt Finlin
Canada
Okie
Directed by Kate Cobb
United States
Running for the Mountains
Directed by Babette Hogan, Julie Eisenberg
United States
Send Kelp!
Directed by Blake McWilliam
Canada
Veselka
Directed by Michael Fiore
United States
56 U.S. PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
Achilles
Directed by Farhad Delaram
Iran, France Germany
Andragogy
Directed by Wregas Bhanuteja
Indonesia
Atikamekw Suns
Directed by Chloé Leriche
Canada
The Ballad of a Hustler
Directed by Heitor Dhalia
United States, Brazil
Before It Ends (Når befrielsen kommer)
Directed by Anders Walter
Denmark
Birthday Girl
Directed by Michael Noer
Denmark
The Blue Star (La estrella azul)
Directed by Javier Macipe
Spain, Argentina
Cinema Laika
Directed by Veljko Vidak
France, Finland
Cold (Kuldi)
Directed by Erlingur Thoroddsen
Iceland
Cold Sigh
Directed by Nahid Azizi Sedigh
Iran
Coup!
Directed by Austin Stark, Joseph Schuman
United States
Crush: Message in a Bottle
Directed by Maya Gallus
Canada
Dance First
Directed by James Marsh
United Kingdom
Days of Happiness
Directed by Chloé Robichaud
Canada
Dear Jassi
Directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
India
Disconnect Me
Directed by Alex Lykos
Australia
Edge of Everything
Directed by Sophia Sabella, Pablo Feldman
United States
El paraiso
Directed by Enrico Maria Artale
Italy
Estonia
Directed by
Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Estonia
Excursion (Ekskurzija)
Directed by Una Gunjak
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, France, Norway, Qatar
French Girl
Directed by James A. Woods, Nicolas Wright
Canada
Good Savage
Directed by Santiago Mohar Volkow
Mexico
Green Night
Directed by Han Shuai
Hong Kong
Hoard
Directed by Luna Carmoon
United Kingdom
Homecoming (Máhccan)
Directed by Suvi West, Anssi Kömi
Finland, Norway
I’m Just Here for the Riot
Directed by Asia Youngman, Kathleen Jayme
Canada
The King Tide
Directed by Christian Sparkes
Canada
The Last Daughter
Directed by Brenda Matthews, Nathaniel Schmidt
Australia
The Last Movie
Directed by Olaug Spissøy Kyvik
Norway
Let Me Go (Laissez-moi)
Directed by Maxime Rappaz
Switzerland
Medium
Directed by Christina Ioakeimidi
Greece
Mimang
Directed by Kim Tae-yang
South Korea
The Movie Teller
Directed by Lone Scherfig
Spain, France, Chile
Mr. Freeman
Directed by Mads Matthiesen
Denmark
Much Ado About Dying
Directed by Simon Chambers
Ireland
On Earth as in Heaven (Sur la terre comme au ciel)
Directed by Nathalie Saint-Pierre
Canada
On the Edge (État limite)
Directed by Nicolas Peduzzi
France
The Other Son
Directed by Juan Sebastián Quebrada
Colombia, France, Argentina
Over the Cracks (Sous le tapis)
Directed by Camille Japy
France
Photophobia
Directed by Ivan Ostrochovský, Pavel Pekarčík
Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine
Point of Change
Directed by Rebecca Coley
United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Indonesia
Prison in the Andes (Penal Cordillera)
Directed by Felipe Carmona
Chile, Brazil
Queen of Bones
Directed by Robert Budreau
United States
A Ravaging Wind
Directed by Paula Hernández
Argentina, Uruguay
The Reeds
Directed by Cemil Ağacıkoğlu
Turkey
Rickerl
Directed by Adrian Goiginger
Austria, Germany
The Rooster
Directed by Mark Leonard Winter
Australia
Seagrass
Directed by Meredith Hama-Brown
Canada
Snow Leopard (雪豹)
Directed by Pema Tseden
China
Suze
Directed by Linsey Stewart, Dane Clark
Canada
That They May Face the Rising Sun
Directed by Pat Collins
Ireland
The Tundra Within Me (Eallogierdu)
Directed by Sara Margrethe Oskal
Norway
Unmoored
Directed by Caroline Ingvarsson
United Kingdom
Until the Music is Over (Até que a Música Pare)
Directed by Cristiane Oliveira
Brazil, Italy
Uproar
Directed by Paul Middleditch, Hamish Bennett
New Zealand
The Vourdalak
Directed by Adrien Beau
France
NON PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
Abroad
Directed by Giovanni Fumu
South Korea, United States
All You Hear is Noise
Directed by Ned Castle, Matt Day
United States
Another Happy Day
Directed by Nora Fiffer
United States
Ashima
Directed by Kenji Tsukamoto
United States
Blaga’s Lessons (Urotcite na Blaga)
Directed by Stephan Komandarev
Bulgaria
Brothers (Bratři)
Directed by Tomáš Mašín
Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia
Bye Bye Tiberias
Directed by Lina Soualem
France, Palestine, Belgium, Qatar
City of Wind (Sèr sèr salhi)
Directed by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
Mongolia, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar, France
The Contestant
Directed by Clair Titley
United Kingdom
Copa 71
Directed by Rachel Ramsay, James Erskine
United Kingdom
The Cowboy and the Queen
Directed by Andrea Nevins
United States
Eat Bitter
Directed by Pascale Appora-Gnekindy, Ningyi Sun
Central African Republic, China
Ezra
Directed by Tony Goldwyn
United States
First Time Female Director
Directed by Chelsea Peretti
United States
First We Bombed New Mexico
Directed by Lois Lipman
United States
Fresh Kills
Directed by Jennifer Esposito
United States
A Happy Day
Directed by Hisham Zaman
Norway
I’ll Be Right There
Directed by Brendan Walsh
United States
In the Rearview
Directed by
Poland, France, Ukraine
Joika
Directed by James Napier Robertson
New Zealand, Poland
La Extorsión
Directed by Martino Zaidelis
Argentina, USA
Limbo
Directed by Ivan Sen
Australia
A Look Through His Lens
Directed by Matthew Berkowitz, Gregory Hoblit
United States, France, Ireland, United Kingdom
Lucha: A Wrestling Tale
Directed by Marco Ricci
United States
Mourning in Lod
Directed by Hilla Medalia
United States
One Life
Directed by James Hawes
United Kingdom
Pet Shop Days
Directed by Olmo Schnabel
United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico
Seven Blessings
Directed by Ayelet Menahemi
Israel
Shari & Lamb Chop
Directed by Lisa D’Apolito
United States
Show Her the Money
Directed by Ky Dickens
United States
Sira
Directed by Apolline Traoré
Burkina Faso, France, Germany, Senegal
Solitude
Directed by Ninna Pálmadóttir
Iceland
Sorry/Not Sorry
Directed by Caroline Suh, Cara Mones
United States
The Taste of Things
Directed by Trần Anh Hùng
France
Thank You Very Much
Directed by Alex Braverman
United States
TransMexico
Directed by Claudia Sanchez
United States
We Are Guardians
Directed by Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, Rob Grobman
United States, Brazil
We Grown Now
Directed by Minhal Baig
United States
Wicked Little Letters
Directed by Thea Sharrock
United Kingdom
Without Air
Directed by Katalin Moldovai
Hungary
2024 SBIFF SHORT FILMS – (listed alphabetically)
26 WORLD PREMIERES AND 21 U.S. PREMIERES
72
Directed by Marissa Chibás
United States
World Premiere
841
Directed by Rachel Burnett
United States
World Premiere
The ABCs of Book Banning
Directed by Sheila Nevins
United States
Above & Within
Directed by Patrick Hall
United States
World Premiere
Alarms (Apnées)
Directed by Nicolas Panay
France
US Premiere
And Now I Lay Me Down
Directed by Rani DeMuth
United States
World Premiere
Area Boy
Directed by Iggy London
United Kingdom
US Premiere
The Ballad of Tita and the Machines
Directed by Miguel Angel Caballero
United States
Basri and Salma in a Never-ending Comedy (Basri & Salma dalam Komedi yang Terus Berputar)
Directed by Khozy Rizal
Indonesia
A Bird Called Memory (Pássaro Memória)
Directed by Leonardo Martinelli
Brazil, United Kingdom
US Premiere
The Birthday Party (Il compleanno di Enrico)
Directed by Francesco Sossai
Germany, France, Italy
US Premiere
A Body Called Life
Directed by Spencer MacDonald
United States
World Premiere
Boo
Directed by Genevieve Aniello
United States
World Premiere
Breaking Silence
Directed by Amy Bench, Annie Silverstein
United States
The Breakthrough
Directed by Daniel Sinclair
United States
Dammi
Directed by Yann Mounir Demange
France, United Kingdom
US Premiere
Dog Apartment (Koerkorter)
Directed by Priit Tender
Estonia
Don’t Cry, Gabriel (Pleure pas Gabriel)
Directed by Mathilde Chavanne
France
US Premiere
Farms and Tables
Directed by Taylor Scott Mason, Noah Forbes
United States
World Premiere
Forget Me Again
Directed by Noah Freeman Hecht
United States
World Premiere
Fracture
Directed by Joel Novoa, Marilu Godinez
United States
World Premiere
The Golden West
Directed by Tom Berkeley, Ross White
Ireland
Good Boy
Directed by Tom Stuart
United Kingdom
US Premiere
Gorgeous
Directed by Morgan Gould
United States
World Premiere
Gorgo (Γοργώ)
Directed by Veniamin Gialouris
Australia
US Premiere
Greetings From Summerland
Directed by Joey Szalkiewicz, Harry Rabin
United States
World Premiere
Help Me Understand
Directed by Aemilia Scott
United States
I’m on Fire
Directed by Michael Spiccia
United States
In the Shadow of the Cypress (Dar saaye sarv)
Directed by Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani
Iran
US Premiere
Incroci
Directed by Francesca de Fusco
Italy, United States
US Premiere
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Directed by Julia Aks, Steve Pinder
United States
World Premiere
Joy
Directed by Aner Etxebarria Moral
Spain
Magda
Directed by Adela Kaczmarek
Poland
US Premiere
Making Babies (Faire un enfant)
Directed by Eric K. Boulianne
Canada
A Man’s Man
Directed by Myles Desenberg
United Kingdom
US Premiere
Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in black)
Directed by Matthew Thorne, Derik Lynch
Australia
The Meatseller
Directed by Margherita Giusti
US Premiere
Merv
Directed by Sam Roebling
United States
My Dead Dad
Directed by Abby Ellis, Erik Osterholm
United States
World Premiere
Nada De Todo Esto
Directed by Patricio Martínez, Francisco Cantón
Argentina, Spain, United Statess
US Premiere
Next Train Out
Directed by Darby Naughton
United States
World Premiere
Nine Lives
Directed by Jessie Davidson
United States
World Premiere
Nun or Never!
Directed by Heta Jäälinoja
Finland
On the 8th Day (Au 8ème Jour)
Directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois
France
US Premiere
The Orchestra Chuck Built
Directed by Christopher Stoudt
United States
Our Neighbors, the Peacocks
Directed by Callie Barlow
United States
World Premiere
Panadrilo
Directed by Marcela Heilbron
Panamá
World Premiere
Primero, Sueño
Directed by Andrés Lira
United States
Relationship to Patient
Directed by Caroline Creaghead
United States
World Premiere
Relighting Candles: The Tim Sullivan Story
Directed by Zeberiah Newman, Michiel Thomas
United States
The Salt on Our Skin
Directed by Alessandra Puig-Santana, Reese Raygoza, Lukas Olesinski, Tess McCormick, Audrey Engelsgjerd, Michelle Truong
United States
World Premiere
Save the Cat
Directed by Jordan Matthew Horowitz
United States
World Premiere
Savi the Cat
Directed by Bryan Tucker, Netsie Tjirongo
United States
Sea Salt
Directed by Leila Basma
Czech Republic, Lebanon, Qatar
US Premiere
Seasons (四·季)
Directed by Xin Li
China
World Premiere
Sira
Directed by Mariame N’Diaye
France
US Premiere
The Skates
Directed by Halima Ouardiri
Canada
Sludge: A PFAS Uprising
Directed by Jeffrey Christian
United States
World Premiere
Someone Lied on the Roommate Form
Directed by Najee Werners
United States
World Premiere
Someone’s Trying to Get in
Directed by Colin Nixon
Canada
World Premiere
Taking Back the Groove
Directed by Celia Aniskovich
United States
The Voice of Others (La voix des autres)
Directed by Fatima Kaci
France
US Premiere
Two Cents & A Footlong
Directed by Kanin Guntzelman
United States
World Premiere
Unbraided
Directed by Caroline Renard
United States
World Premiere
Wander to Wonder
Directed by Nina Gantz
Netherlands, France, Belgium
US Premiere
Where the Sun Always Shines
Directed by Rosie Baldwin
United Kingdom
Wild Summon
Directed by Karni Arieli, Saul Freed
United Kingdom
Will You Remember Me?
Directed by Will Dowler
United States
World Premiere
WOACA
Directed by Mackenzie Davis
United Kingdom
US Premiere
ABOUT THE SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
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 39 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 39th SBIFF include: Manitou Fund, Black Market Spirits, DAOU Vineyards, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Panavision, Santa Barbara City, US Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Yardi, Kaleidoscope Productions, ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, American Society of Cinematographers, John C. Mithun Foundation, Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation, Northern Trust, Netflix, Visit The Santa Ynez Valley, Bentson Foundation, Volentine Family Foundation, Toad&Co, Topa Topa Brewing Company, Boxed Water Is Better, Saige Private Wealth, El Encanto and many more generous supporters.
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.
