SBIFF – Page 5 – Ted Mills

Ready to explore: The SBIFF announces its 2014 slate and unveils its poster

January 8, 2014August 31, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Barbara Boros unveils the poster for the 29th annual Santa Barbara international Film Festival on Tuesday. "Exploration" is the theme — Barbara Boros unveils the poster for the 29th annual Santa Barbara
international Film Festival on Tuesday. “Exploration” is the theme

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Tuesday announced “Exploration” as the main theme for this year’s 11-day celebration of stars and films.

For stargazers, the 29th annual event runs Jan. 30 through Feb. 9 and promises many of Hollywood’s biggest actors.

Cate Blanchett will arrive Feb. 1 for her tribute evening. After that the Virtuosos (Feb. 4) features up-and-coming actors Daniel Brühl, Adele Exarchopoulos, Oscar Isaac, Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Jared Leto, and June Squibb.

A most generous man: Fellow stars honor Forest Whitaker at SBIFF’s fundraising gala

January 6, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Although it had been postponed several weeks, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival held its annual fundraiser Sunday night at the Bacara Resort & Spa, presenting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film to actor, director and producer Forest Whitaker. The sit-down dinner and black-tie affair was planned for Dec. 15, but scheduling conflicts pushed the event to the first week of 2014, less than a month away from the Festival itself, which begins Jan. 30.

This event, in its eighth year, is a more subdued affair than the similar celebrity awards evenings that draw thousands to the Festival. In place of a sit-down interview in front of theater audiences, the evening gives the podium over to fellow actors and directors to speak about the honoree, with some words from the star himself. And the Bacara, with tables named after select Whitaker films – from “Good Morning, Vietnam” to “Ghost Dog,” was the place to do it, far away from downtown.

Fresh off solo disaster movie, Robert Redford is coming to the Film Fest

December 17, 2013September 15, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Robert Redford, shown here in "All Is Lost," will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's American Riviera Award in February. ASSOCIATED PRESS — Robert Redford, shown here in “All Is Lost,” will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s American Riviera Award in February.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

One more piece of the puzzle has been placed in Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s award schedule. After the announcements of Oprah Winfrey, Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson and the seven recipients of the Virtuosos Award, the Festival revealed that actor Robert Redford will receive this year’s American Riviera Award.

The 77-year-old actor scored among critics this year with his bravura, one-man survivalist movie “All Is Lost,” about a man trying to save his boat and himself at sea when the hull is ripped open. The sometimes wordless, visceral performance has earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and a Best Actor Oscar nomination may be in the cards, as the SBIFF often serves as a bellwether for award season.

Whitaker to receive Douglas Award

October 25, 2013September 25, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Forest Whitaker STEPHEN LOVEKIN / GETTY IMAGES — Forest Whitaker
STEPHEN LOVEKIN / GETTY IMAGES

Film actor Forest Whitaker, who stars in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” is to receive this year’s Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, according to an announcement from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The award will be given at a black-tie gala dinner Dec. 15 at the Bacara.

The 52-year-old actor is best known for his roles in “Platoon,” “Bird,” “The Crying Game,” and “Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai.”

His starring role in “The Last King of Scotland,” in which he played Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, earned him his first Oscar for Best Actor. He also was honored for the role at SBIFF in 2007.

Bonjour, Cannes: Two SBCC filmmakers make it big with their short

May 12, 2013October 7, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Santa Barbara City College filmmakers, from left, Gabi Guillen, screenwriter; Michelle Magers, producer; and Benjamin Goalabre, director. STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS

On Monday, two Santa Barbara City College filmmakers will be flying out to that most famous and illustrious of cinema events, the Cannes Film Festival.

In a combination of talent and luck, along with hard work, Benjamin Golabre and Gabriella “Gabi” Guillen submitted their film to several fests right after it won at this year’s 10-10-10 student competition at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

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.