SBIFF – Page 3 – Ted Mills

All in the family: SBIFF honors the film and environmental work of the Cousteau family

January 23, 2015August 9, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Jean-Michel Cousteau, along with son Fabien and daughter Céline, will be honored for their excellence in nature filmmaking. Ocean Futures Society — Jean-Michel Cousteau, along with son Fabien and daughter Céline, will be honored for their excellence in nature filmmaking.
Ocean Futures Society

The well-loved Wes Anderson film “The Life Aquatic” offered a parody of the ocean-bound family— the patriarch with his zeal for the open sea, and a family following in his footsteps, some with enthusiasm, some begrudgingly— and it worked so well because a generation knew the love-object of its satire, the Cousteau family. The real Cousteau family, now in its third generation (or fourth if you count their children), has wavered a bit from their grandfather Jacques’ mission, but they have never stopped putting the earth and the oceans first.

And so on Wednesday night, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival honors father Jean-Michel, along with son Fabien and daughter Céline for the many documentaries, non-profits and awareness they have brought while carrying on the family name. The Richard Attenborough Award, which the festival has not awarded for five years, will feature an evening of interviews and screenings.

A cinephiliac’s cornucopia: What to watch at this year’s SBIFF

January 23, 2015August 6, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The late British star Alan Bates in a scene from "Sins of a Father" SBIFF photo — The late British star Alan Bates in a scene from “Sins of a Father” SBIFF photo

Happy 30th birthday Santa Barbara International Film Festival! Now expanded by one full day and moved up to open on a Tuesday, the fest that draws film and movie star lovers from all over keeps getting bigger and better. With 23 world premieres and 53 U.S. premieres, along with loads more films on offer, from shorts to documentaries and back again, it can get quite overwhelming, especially when time is of the essence and major decisions need to be made.

As of this writing, days and times have not been announced, so this is our cursory look at the upcoming line-up of films, section by section, with our favorites based on trailers, director reputation and spidey-sense. From experience, some films at SBIFF never see the light of day in terms of DVD, VOD or streaming after the fest circuit, so we’ve learned not to wait. So let’s get to it!

Jessica Lange kicks off SBIFF season: Actress honored with Kirk Douglas Award in opening film fest fundraiser

November 17, 2014August 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Jessica Lange poses for a photo with Demi Moore. Ms. Lange was joined by Kathy Bates and Ms. Moore for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's ninth annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, which was presented to the Academy Award-winning Ms. Lange. — Jessica Lange poses for a photo with Demi Moore. Ms. Lange was joined by Kathy Bates and Ms. Moore for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s ninth annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, which was presented to the Academy Award-winning Ms. Lange.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival kicked off its upcoming 2015 installment two months ahead of time with its annual fundraiser at the Bacara on Sunday. The Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film ceremony honored actress Jessica Lange for her lifetime of work in the movies and did so with a gala dinner, a series of retrospective clips, and celebrity presenters. This was the ninth year for the popular event.

Currently, Jessica Lange is riding a career high as the central character in FX’s award-winning creepshow, “American Horror Story.” Because of its season specific stories, Jessica Lange has played a different character every season, from a spooky neighbor in the first one, to a cruel Mother superior in season two, a supreme witch in season three, and now the leader of a traveling freak zone in the ongoing fourth season. While other actors are resting on their laurels in their 60s, or playing to their familiar strengths, Ms. Lange keeps stretching her abilities, pushing herself to grander and more outré directions. And while Hollywood is having a hard time finding any meaty roles for women these days, Ms. Lange has owned her corner of the television world and won two Emmys.

After This, The Deluge: SBIFF’S FRENCH FILM SERIES THE WAVE COMES TO THE RIVIERA

July 11, 2014September 24, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

"Not My Type (Pas Son Genre — “Not My Type (Pas Son Genre

The Wave is rolling toward our shores this week, a five-day, 11-film mini-film fest put on by Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Intended as a mid-year fundraiser for SBIFF, it features in its first year a focus on France and French directors, with other countries slotted for following years. So why France as the first choice?

“French cinema is very popular among our audience,” says SBIFF programmer Mickey Duzdevich, meaning Santa Barbara in general. He points to the success of the French films that screen in SBIFF’s Showcase series at Plaza de Oro every Wednesday. “Those films are the ones that sell out.” And at the last SBIFF, French films sold more tickets. Who knew Santa Barbara were such Francophiles? Quelle surprise!

SBIFF: Wide eyes and big movies: SBIFF’s Field Trip brings in children to experience films on the big screen

February 9, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Approximately 2,000 school kids descended upon the Arlington Theatre for "Mike's Field Trip to the Movies" during the SBIFF.NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS — Approximately 2,000 school kids descended upon the Arlington Theatre for “Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies” during the SBIFF.

NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS

The view from the Arlington stage was impressive on Thursday morning. From the front row to the balcony, 2,000 kids from schools all over the county laughed, applauded, and cheered along to Disney’s animated hit “Frozen.” But this wasn’t a regular screening of the Hans Christian Andersen-based animated film, but one of two screenings of SBIFF’s “Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies.”

One of SBIFF’s outreach programs, Field Trip buses in a total of 4,000 students, many of them in Title 1 schools for children below the poverty level, to see a movie at the Arlington and meet the filmmakers.

SBIFF: Robert Redford looks back on more than 50 years of filmmaking

February 8, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Above, Robert Redford is interviewed on the Arlington Theatre stage by Leonard Maltin during a celebration of Mr. Redford's career.MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — Above, Robert Redford is interviewed on the Arlington Theatre stage
by Leonard Maltin during a celebration of Mr. Redford’s career.

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

“I’ve always been shy, especially at celebrations of myself,” Robert Redford said as he sat down for a career retrospective at Friday night’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Cinema Vanguard award.

“But,” he added, “I’m glad I’m getting one.”

So was the packed Arlington Theater, which was just as sold out as the previous night’s Scorsese-DiCaprio two-fer, just with fewer screaming fans waiting outside on the red carpet.

SBIFF: Double Dose – Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio share the stage at SBIFF

February 7, 2014April 22, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Leonardo DiCaprio meets fans on the red carpet before receiving the SBIFF award.

Look what happens when you wait.

When Leonardo DiCaprio bowed out of his own American Riviera Award at the SBIFF last year fans were disappointed. When, they wondered, would Mr. DiCaprio return? Well, as it turns out, he’s back this year and he brought Martin Scorsese with him for an evening’s worth of conversation moderated by Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy. The focus was film and the history of the two men, who increase their symbiotic relationship with each movie they work on together. (This time Mr. DiCaprio’s award is the “Cinema Vanguard” award.)

SBIFF: A star quartet: Despite cancellations, SBIFF’s Virtuosos celebrates 2013’s breakout roles

February 5, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Tuesday night’s Virtuosos awards at the Arlington Theatre celebrated seven of the breakout roles in this past year of films.

Fans of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Virtuosos evening, which honors several actors for one particular role instead of one actor for a career, have noticed the increasing number of honorees. In 2011 there were five actors, in 2013 six, and now seven.

SBIFF: Heavy hitters: Producers and women’s panels give insight to the industry

February 3, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival hosted discussion panels Saturday at the Lobero Theatre.

The industry panels are some of the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s most popular events for the cinephile.

While the movie stars attract the most, the two panels Saturday at the Lobero offered much more insight into the day-to-day machinations of the movie business: the search for funding, the challenges of getting films made, and the often convoluted ways of attaining a career.

The panels had some guest overlap, but both provided interest during their hour-long chats.

SBIFF: Catherine the Great: Cate Blanchett honored for her role in ‘Blue Jasmine’

February 2, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Ms. Blanchett signs autographs before walking the red carpet Saturday at the Arlington Theatre.MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — Ms. Blanchett signs autographs before walking the red carpet Saturday at the Arlington Theatre.

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Cate Blanchett sat down with Deadline Hollywood’s Pete Hammond on Saturday night for a conversation about the craft of acting.

This was the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s evening for the Outstanding Performer of the Year, honoring Ms. Blanchett for her starring (and Oscar-nominated) role in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.”