Festivals – Page 5

That’s a Wrap: SBIFF’s 28th year ends on a high note

February 4, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Roll up the red carpet and put it in storage. Tear down the crowd barriers, the posters and banners. The 28th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival ended Sunday night as it began, with a closing night film at the Arlington Theatre and filmmakers walking the carpet. The atmosphere was subdued but elated.

The fest could name some successes this year. The opening film “Disconnect” was so well received – a first – that it received a second screening. The Ben Affleck, Daniel Day Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence tribute evenings all sold out. The Quentin Tarantino night, hastily announced and organized on the day before the opening, nearly sold out too.

SBIFF: Lawrence wows Arlington at SBIFF’s final tribute

February 3, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Jennifer Lawrence stops for photographers at the Arlington Theatre. MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — Jennifer Lawrence stops for photographers at the Arlington Theatre.
MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

If SBIFF followers were feeling a bit underwhelmed with the star power of its last few tributes, the screaming crowds 10 people deep ringing the Arlington on Saturday night assuaged all fears.

Jennifer Lawrence, the 22-year-old actress best known for three standout hits, was in town to receive SBIFF’s Outstanding Performance of the Year award.

The award was for her Oscar-nominated work in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” but the throngs of devoted fans were here to see the Ms. Lawrence they knew: Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games.”

SBIFF’s Women’s Panel celebrates producers, writers and developers

February 3, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Saturday's Women's Panel featured, from left, moderator Madelyn Hammond, Allison Abbate, Lucy Alibar, Marissa Paiva, Katherine Sarafian and Pilar Savone. MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS — Saturday’s Women’s Panel featured, from left, moderator Madelyn Hammond, Allison Abbate, Lucy Alibar, Marissa Paiva, Katherine Sarafian and Pilar Savone.
MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS

Why are there not more women in Hollywood?

This is the perpetual question, recently raised in several articles quoting the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University’s findings that only 18 percent of directors, writers and camera people of the top-grossing movies are women.

It’s also been a familiar question at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Women’s Panel for the last few years, and it was asked again Saturday afternoon at the Lobero Theatre.

Producers panel brings Oscar nominees to town

February 3, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The Santa Barbara film festival's Movers & Shakers panel included, from left, moderator John Horn, Bruce Cohen, Debra Hayward, Dan Janvey, Kathleen Kennedy, Stacey Sher and David Womark. MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS — The Santa Barbara film festival’s Movers & Shakers panel included, from left, moderator John Horn, Bruce Cohen, Debra Hayward, Dan Janvey, Kathleen Kennedy, Stacey Sher and David Womark.
MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS

Six of this year’s Oscar-nominated producers took the stage for Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s third panel, the always popular Movers & Shakers event.

On an overcast Saturday morning, the Lobero Theatre was quite full with film fans who had come to see the less-recognizable but very important faces behind this year’s best films.

Breaking bones and records: SBIFF documentary recalls the crazy ‘Signal Hill Speed Run’

February 2, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Jim O'Mahoney, shown in a 1970s photo, is the subject of a documentary, "Signal Hill Speed Run," about skateboard racing. The film screens tonight as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. — Jim O’Mahoney, shown in a 1970s photo, is the subject of a documentary, “Signal Hill Speed Run,” about skateboard racing. The film screens tonight as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

“It was the X-Games of its day,” he says.

These days Jim O’Mahoney is best known to Santa Barbarans as the owner of the Surf Museum on Helena Avenue and its newer, but equally delightful, history museum next door.

But back when he was 30, Mr. O’Mahoney started a four-year event at the same time as the modern skateboard industry, resulting in some incredible speeds and dangerous accidents.

Oscar nominee Amy Adams to receive Vanguard Award tonight

January 31, 2013December 21, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

With four Oscar nominations to her name, Amy Adams may finally be in line to grab that golden statue next month. Her performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master,” as the wife of a Scientology-style guru, has again raised her profile. Ms. Adams has a broad range and means serious business.

When she sits down at the Arlington tonight to receive the Cinema Vanguard Award, it will be the first time Ms. Adams has watched her career unspool in front of her and a crowd.

SBIFF honors six Virtuosos of 2012 at the Arlington

January 30, 2013December 21, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The Virtuosos Award evening at the Arlington Theatre Tuesday night brought in six actors who had breakout roles last year in everything from indie features to big-budget Hollywood films.

It was the kind of evening that showed the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings in not only superstars, but also actors who may turn out to be stars in their own right. See for example, previous years’ honoring of Marion Cotillard and Viola Davis.

The six for this year, each interviewed in separate 20-minute segments, were Ann Dowd, Elle Fanning, Ezra Miller, Eddie Redmayne, Omar Sy and Oscar-nominated Quvenzhané Wallis

Feel the waves: SBIFF’s Sunday night premiere immersed viewers in 3D surfing

January 28, 2013December 21, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The red carpet leads into the Arlington Theatre for Sunday's showing of "Storm Surfers 3-D." NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — The red carpet leads into the Arlington Theatre for Sunday’s showing of “Storm Surfers 3-D.”
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

“If you’re not a surfer after seeing this film, you’re going to feel like you are.”

Sunday night’s SBIFF event at the Arlington, “Storm Surfers 3-D” was a much mellower event than the previous two. No Hollywood, no ravenous banks of paparazzi, no screaming, adoring fans holding up posters. But the Arlington was modestly packed with serious surf fans waiting to see this breakthrough surfing documentary made all the more remarkable with its use of?3D.

The night was made even more special with the announcement that the film had just won the Australian Oscars —the coveted AACTA — for Best Documentary Feature. That made the journey to Santa Barbara for its two directors — Justin McMillan and Christopher Nellius — and its three stars — famous big-wave surfers Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones and surfing forecaster Ben Matson — all that more special. As the directors said just before the screening, the Arlington was the best theater they’d ever screened in.

It’s all in the script: SBIFF offers an in-depth look at screenwriting with Oscar nominees

January 27, 2013December 28, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Discussing screenwriting in a Santa Barbara International Film Festival panel were, from left, moderator Anne Thompson; Stephen Chbosky, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"; Roman Coppola, "Moonrise Kingdom"; John Gatins, "Flight"; Rian Johnson, "Looper"; and David Magee, "Life of Pi." MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS — Discussing screenwriting in a Santa Barbara International Film Festival panel were, from left, moderator Anne Thompson; Stephen Chbosky, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”; Roman Coppola, “Moonrise Kingdom”; John Gatins, “Flight”; Rian Johnson, “Looper”; and David Magee, “Life of Pi.”
MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS

Saturday afternoon’s “It Starts with the Script” panel at SBIFF was an even-handed affair, giving six of the Oscar-nominated screenwriters time to discuss craft, take questions from the audience (mostly good ones), and offer encouragement to those hoping to make it in the industry.

Critic Anne Thompson returned once again to host the event at the Lobero, bringing on Stephen Chbosky (“The Perks of Being A Wallflower”); Roman Coppola, (“Moonrise Kingdom”); John Gatins (“Flight”); Rian Johnson (“Looper”); and David Magee (“Life of Pi”). “Zero Dark Thirty” writer Mark Boal was a no-show.

Rule breakers: SBIFF directors panel entertaining but uneven

January 27, 2013December 28, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The directors panel, from left, moderator Peter Bart; Tom Hooper, "Les Miserables"; Rich Moore, "Wreck-It Ralph"; David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook"; Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"; Malik Bendjelloul, "Searching for Sugar Man"; and Mark Andrews, "Brave." NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS — The directors panel, from left, moderator Peter Bart; Tom Hooper, “Les Miserables”; Rich Moore, “Wreck-It Ralph”; David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”; Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; Malik Bendjelloul, “Searching for Sugar Man”; and Mark Andrews, “Brave.”
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS

Six of this year’s Oscar contenders for best director from the narrative, documentary and animation fields sat for a panel discussion on their craft early Saturday morning at the Lobero.

Led by longtime moderator Peter Bart, the annual “Directors on Directing” panel was an entertaining look into their craft, dealing with actors, theories of editing, and working with audiences.

On the other hand, it was an uneven panel in terms of speaking time, and occasionally let down by snark from Mr. Bart.