The 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival Begins

Our 2024 picks and tips for celluloid nirvana

WORDS Ninette Paloma

With only two discernable seasons in Santa Barbara – spring and atmospheric rivers – the tail end of winter is celebrated each year with the arrival of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, a ten-day celluloid spectacle to wash away the rainstorm scaries. From February 7-17, the city’s downtown area will buzz with a spirited mélange of languages and outfits as filmmakers, actors, and moviegoers shuffle their way up and down State Street taking in the breadth of festival offerings. This year, those offerings include a whopping 200 films, tributes, and panel discussions that tread deep into the emotional how and why movies continue to captivate us.

There is, of course, a dilemma when faced with a line-up this extensive and alluring, given the number of hours in the day and, well, life obligations. The upside? Programming Director Claudia Puig has curated such an airtight array of cinematic offerings, you would be hard pressed to make any poor choices when filling up your festival calendar. Still, the possibilities can feel daunting, so after decoding a SBIFF program guide with all the dedication of a cryptanalyst, we have found that categorizing our selections by a distinctive mood allows us to take in the festival with expert ease.

Say you were interested in fanning the flames of activism, for example. Director Lois Lipman’s timely documentary First We Bombed New Mexico would be at the top of your list, followed by Chloe Leriche’s true life drama Atikamekw Suns; discover the social turmoil in the Sahel region of Northern Africa in Apolline Traoré’s feature film Sira; and settle into an evening with American Riviera Award recipient and humanitarian Mark Ruffalo.

Is luscious art direction more your style? Look no further than Bahraini filmmaker Hala Matar’s mesmerizing Electra; Rani Demuth’s hilarious short And Now I Lay Me Down; powerhouse Danish director Lone Scherfig’s The Movie Teller; and, let’s face it, aesthetically pleasing Outstanding Performer recipient Bradley Cooper.

Perhaps exploring the complexities of the female experience is a priority this year. Ky Dickens’ call- to- arms documentary Show Her the Money will inform and inspire; Micere Keels’ poignant study of a flawed healthcare system in The Fight for Black Lives cannot be ignored; Rachel Ramsay’s recounting of the 1971 Women’s World Cup Copa 71 is a fierce motivator; and the always uplifting Women’s Panel will fill your mind with hope.

Does American urban storytelling peak your interest? Then take in the endearing energy of disco legend Richie Weeks in Celia Aniskovich’s short film Taking Back the Groove; experience life as a child in the housing projects of Chicago in Minhal Baig’s We Grown Now; and learn about the generational history and humanitarian efforts of New York City’s beloved Ukrainian restaurant in Michael Fiore’s Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World.

 If you are committed to dazzling cinematography, then Lisa Landers’ love letter to the California redwood in Giants Rising will uplift; surrender to Pat Collins’ arresting capture of life in rural Ireland in That They May Face the Rising Sun; and listen in on a dialogue between directors Martin Scorsese and Justine Triet as they discuss the method and motivation for their visually captivating and Oscar-nominated films.

Follow along with us over the next ten days as we immerse ourselves in the stories and people of the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, sharing our reviews and experiences through a panoramic lens that also highlights the vibrant coastal town hosting this cinephile love fest rain or shine each year. See you in the theatres, Santa Barbara.