The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by Lexus, announced today the lineup for the 40th edition, which will run February 4 to 15, 2025, with an added extra day in celebration of its 40th anniversary. The festival will showcase 33 world premieres and 74 U.S. premieres from 60 countries with 52% of films directed by women, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
“As the tragic events in our sister city of Los Angeles were unfolding, we debated about moving forward with SBIFF. Film has always been a conduit for comfort and renewal, and film festivals play a vital role in fostering a sense of connection. Festivals build community, and create an outlet for the process of feelings. In light of this, it became clear that we must move forward with our 40th edition. The twelve days of the festival will be dedicated to the City of Angels, and we will put in place an initiative during it to raise funds for LA in partnership with Direct Relief.” – Roger Durling, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
SBIFF and Direct Relief are partnering in a response to the unprecedented wildfires in and around Los Angeles. Throughout the Festival, all donations to this effort will be doubled through the generosity of a $100,000 matching grant.
“This year’s lineup, featuring films from Peru to Kazakhstan, showcases a diverse range of globally relevant themes, from thought-provoking explorations of social justice to pressing environmental challenges. We are confident that these films—a record number of which were made by women—will be loved by audiences as much as they are by our programming team” – Claudia Puig, Programming Director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
OPENING NIGHT
SBIFF will kick off on Opening Night presented by Lexus, Tuesday, February 4, with the US Premiere of JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE (Jane Austen a gâché ma vie). Written and Directed by Laura Piani, stars Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson and Annabelle Lengronne. The Writer/Director will be joining us in-person.
Agathe (Rutherford) hopelessly clumsy yet charming and full of contradictions, finds herself in desperate singlehood. Her dream is to experience love akin to a Jane Austen novel and her ultimate aspiration is to become a writer. Instead, she spends her days selling books in the legendary British bookshop, Shakespeare & Co, in Paris. Invited to the Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England, she must confront her insecurities to finally fulfill her ambition of becoming a novelist and put an end to wasting her sentimental life.
CLOSING NIGHT
SBIFF will close on Saturday, February 15 with the US Premiere of A MISSING PART (Une part manquante). Written and Directed by Guillaume Senez, stars Romain Duris, Judith Chemla, Mei Cirne-Masuki, Tsuyu, and Shungiku Uchida. The Writer/Director will be joining us in-person.
Every day, Jay travels the length and breadth of Tokyo in his taxi, looking for his daughter Lily. In the nine years since he has separated from his wife, he has never been able to gain custody of his daughter. Having given up hope of ever seeing her again, he is about to move back to France when Lily hops in his cab… but she doesn’t recognize him.
THE JURY
SBIFF is pleased to announce the distinguished jury members who will be celebrating and honoring the films of this year’s Festival lineup. The jury will include Estrella Araiza (Guadalajara International Film Festival Managing Director), Max Barbakow (Filmmaker, Palm Springs), Academy Award® Nominee Moses Bwayo (Filmmaker, Bobi’s Wine: The People’s President), Andres Castillo (Miami International Film Festival Managing Director and Senior Programmer), Jeff Christian (Filmmaker, Echo Chamber), Jimmy Jean-Louis (Actor), Academy Award® Winner Margaret Lazarus (Director, Defending Our Lives), Jena Malone (Actor), Academy Award® Nominee Gregory Nava (Director), and Academy Award® Nominee Shawn Patterson (Composer). The award-winning films will be announced at a ceremony hosted by El Encanto, a Belmont Hotel, with the Jury and Filmmakers in attendance.
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 40th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre.
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Maltin Modern Master Award honoring Angelina Jolie – Wednesday, February 5 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.
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Outstanding Performer of the Year Award honoring Ralph Fiennes – Thursday, February 6 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
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American Riviera Award presented by Lexus honoring Zoe Saldaña – Friday, February 7 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Anne Thompson.
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Variety Artisans Award – Saturday, February 8 at 8:00pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
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Virtuosos Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Kieran Culkin [A REAL PAIN], Harris Dickinson [BABYGIRL], Karla Sofía Gascón [EMILIA PÉREZ], Selena Gomez [EMILIA PÉREZ], Ariana Grande [WICKED], Clarence Maclin [SING SING], Mikey Madison [ANORA], and John Magaro [SEPTEMBER 5] – Sunday, February 9 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Dave Karger.
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Arlington Artist of the Year Award presented by FIJI Water honoring Timothée Chalamet – Tuesday, February 11 at 8:00pm. Moderator to be announced.
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Cinema Vanguard Award honoring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce – Thursday, February 13 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
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Montecito Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Colman Domingo – Friday, February 14 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Roger Durling.
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Outstanding Directors of the Year Award – Date and Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
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 Animation, Producers, Writers, Women’s and International Panels. Panelists to be announced.
Animation Panel – Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm – SBIFF Film Center – Moderated by Roger Durling
Writers Panel – Saturday, February 8 at 11:00am – Arlington Theatre – Moderated by Anne Thompson
International Directors Panel – Sunday, February 9 at 11:00am – Arlington Theatre – Moderated by Roger Durling
Women’s Panel – Saturday, February 15 at 11:00am – Arlington Theatre – Moderated by Madelyn Hammond
Producers Panel – Date and Time to be announced – Arlington Theatre – Moderated by Nicole Sperling
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER MENTIONS
SBIFF Poster Designed by Artist Mary Heebner – The 2025 SBIFF poster was painted by artist and Santa Barbara resident Mary Heebner. Bird Woman, with gracefully raised arms as if in joyful greeting or celebratory dance, is poised before a bloom of rosy colors of dawn. She towers above an osprey—a raptor bird currently listed as a species of special concern due to habitat loss. On a lucky beach walk you might spy a pair of ospreys soaring, hovering, and hunting along our Santa Barbara coastline. The handmade paper collage is anchored by cut-out shapes of a darkly wild and restless sea. My source is a terracotta figure from predynastic Egyptian art, (3650 BCE) excavated from el-Ma’mariya. The prominent beak-like head (hence its sobriquet, bird woman), emphasizes the nose as source of breath, of life itself.
“My artistic practice is deeply grounded in place. Acknowledging the power of ancient presences and landscapes is integral to the creation of my paintings, collages, handmade-paper, photography, and artist’s books. Fragments, both literal and metaphoric, are also vital to my process. Through a parsing out and weaving together of fragments — of histories, stories, objects — people fashion narratives that are personal, collective, cultural, mythic. Revolving shapes within these ancient orbits define us, portend the past, and inform what may come. In my work, the literal tearing apart and piecing together of fragments – paper and other materials – approximates this larger metonymic process that allows us to connect, to imagine, and to create anew.”
AppleBox FREE Family Films – On both Saturdays of the Film Festival, we will be showing the year’s top animated films for FREE at the Marjorie Luke Theatre at 721 East Cota St. Please see dates below, films will be announced shortly:
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Saturday, February 8 – 11:00am
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Saturday, February 8 – 2:00pm
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Saturday, February 15 – 11:00am
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Saturday, February 15 – 2:00pm
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; Director Kesley Mann following INSIDE OUT 2 and Director Chris Sanders following THE WILD ROBOT. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, US Bank, Yardi, John C. Mithun Foundation, Volentine Family Foundation.
Film Studies Program – The Film Studies Program will invite 40 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. All 10 shorts will be shown for FREE at the Arlington Theatre on Saturday, February 15th at 2:00pm. Sponsored by Kaleidoscope Productions, American Society of Cinematographers, Final Draft, Coverfly.
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 at 11:00am during the Festival at Home Planet Productions at 735 State Street, Suite 103. Sponsored by Fujifilm.
The Social Justice Award sponsored by the Fund for Santa Barbara honors a film that engages community and galvanizes change to advance Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial or Social Justice.
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 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.
Youth CineMedia is a local Santa Barbara organization that teaches documentary filmmaking to diverse groups from both urban and rural communities. Founded by Osiris Castañeda in 2002, YCM focuses on creating films that address social justice issues, helping to create positive change through the lens of today’s next generation of filmmakers. This year 9 short films will premiere with FREE admission on Saturday, February 15 at 11:00am.
2025 FILMS
Below is the list of feature and short films at the 2025 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app. Listed alphabetically by film title.
2025 SBIFF FEATURE FILMS
13 WORLD PREMIERES AND 55 US PREMIERES
Across the Sea (La mer au loin)
Directed by Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
US Premiere
France, Morocco, Belgium
Ai Weiwei’s Turandot
Directed by Maxim Derevianko
World Premiere
Italy
All God’s Children
Directed by Ondi Timoner
United States
Among Neighbors
Directed by Yoav Potash
US Premiere
United States
Aontas
Directed by Damian McCann
US Premiere
Ireland
An Arrangement
Directed by Noree Victoria
World Premiere
United States
At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking (Ko će pokucati na vrata mog doma)
Directed by Maja Novaković
US Premiere
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balomanía
Directed by Sissel Morell Dargis
Denmark, Spain
Bauryna Salu
Directed by Askhat Kuchinchirekov
US Premiere
Kazakhstan
Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue
Directed by Jill Campbell
United States
Beyond the Horizon
Directed by Mark Gillard
United States
The Bitter Pill
Directed by Clay Tweel
United States
Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story
Directed by Sinéad O’Shea
Ireland, United Kingdom
Bustin’ Down the Door
Directed by Jeremy Gosch
United States
Can I Get a Witness?
Directed by Ann Marie Fleming
US Premiere
Canada
Carissa
Directed by Jason Jacobs, Devon Delmar
US Premiere
South Africa
Coastal
Directed by Daryl Hannah
United States
Color Book
Directed by David Fortune
United States
Coup 53
Directed by Taghi Amirani
United Kingdom, United States, Iran
Crocodile Tears (Air mata buaya)
Directed by Tumpal Tampubolon
US Premiere
Indonesia
Democracy Under Siege
Directed by Laura Nix
US Premiere
Belgium, Luxembourg, USA
Desert Angel
Directed by Vincent DeLuca
United States
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight
Directed by Embeth Davidtz
South Africa
