SBIFF’s Dashing Downtown Debut

The world of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival keeps expanding. What started as a tiny weekend film festival 40 years ago – a way to draw tourists to our seaside berg during the winter off-season lull – has exploded into a juggernaut of a festival that boasts more star power than any place outside of the majors. Every year, SBIFF routinely sees Oscar hopefuls by the literal dozens get profiled at the Arlington, a scant month or so before the actual Academy Awards are handed out. Eight years ago, SBIFF bought and refurbished the Riviera Theatre, turning the then-rundown place into a first-class art house emporium, not to mention home for Cinema Society screenings that show Oscar-hopeful movie previews with directors and cast almost always on hand for Q&A sessions. 

Now SBIFF is expanding yet again, having secured the lease on the former Fiesta 5 theaters downtown, where the SBIFF Film Center opens on November 15, screening critical darlings, foreign films, and other movies – including a Fellini retrospective! – that aim for actual achievement in storytelling; films, that is, that require some viewer willingness to actually engage, as opposed to sequels, tentpole wannabes or lesser animated efforts. The theaters will remain open through the 40th annual SBIFF, slated for February 4-15, then shut down for full Riviera-style refurbishing, including state-of-the-art sound and projection, new comfortable seating, high-quality concessions including local artisanal snacks, new heating and air conditioning, an art gallery in the lobby, and more. 

Over here, that’s a cause for celebration, and maybe even a step toward revitalizing that area of State Street to renewed glory through cinematic splendor. Maybe you can even cancel Netflix!