In Contention

Tag: Santa Barbara International Film Festival

  • It seems like everyone’s out of town — then again…

    Sundance Film FestivalYou can still find a number of Sundance prep pieces across the Web.  And it seems more and more, the geek press will be out in force, as they were at Telluride last September, much to the surprise of a number of industry folks.  So I was starting to be quasi bummed that I couldn’t make the fest until that “Sundance is going to be a ghost town” stuff started to get louder and louder.

    Karina Longworth tracked down a few journalists to find out why they’re not going to Park City this year.  The reasons she came up with are the economy (duh), competing film festivals, the notion that New Media outlets getting the Sundance smackdown when applying for credentials, the Prop 8 protest and Sundance boycott and the fact that the trip just isn’t worth “the pain in the ass.”  And there’s always the inauguration to consider, for those making the trek to Washington on Jan. 20.

    Here’s one feisty journo on the supposed harshness of the festival:

    “Let’s be honest,” says Film Threat’s Lewis. “Sundance is an enormous pain in the ass. That’s not a knock against Sundance, it’s a fact. It’s cold, it’s crowded, it’s slippery, it’s hard to find time to eat and sleep, there’s thousands of looky-loos crowding the screenings, the movies are a total crap shoot and everyone ends up sick. As much as I’m sure I’ll be sorry I missed it this year, as of right now, we’re all kind of glad we aren’t going.”

    Read all about it here.

    I’ve never been to Sundance, but I’d love to go.  Typically I rail against the festival circuit because to me, it’s the least ideal environment for viewing a film.  Not to mention the fact that studios have, by and large, seized these events as their own publicity tour stops, drowning out the innocence of competition that might have been.  Still, there are those that seem to shed this stygma.

    With that in mind, I’ll be covering this year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival for 10 days starting Jan. 22.  I’ll make the drive up the coast after we finish processing the Oscar nominations and will set up shop from there all week (with a short trip back Jan. 30 to cover the USC Scripter Awards Gala).  Tune in.

  • Six Virtuosos chosen for Santa Barbara Fest

    Michael Shannon in Revolutionary RoadThe press release, in part (happy for Shannon, one of the good guys):

    The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year’s standout performers by presenting The 2009 Virtuosos Award to Viola Davis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Melissa Leo and Michael Shannon.  The Award presentation will take place Wednesday, January 28 at the 24th edition of the Fest, which runs January 22-February 1, 2009, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.

    The Virtuosos Award was created last year to recognize a select group of actors who have distinguished themselves through performances in film this past year.  Last year’s recipients of this inaugural award were Casey Affleck, Marion Cottilard, who went on to win the Best Actress Oscar, James McAvoy, Ellen Page and Amy Ryan.

    “Each of these virtuosos have dazzled us with some of the most unexpected, scene-stealing, heart-breaking, uncompromising, fearless and startling performances of the year,” Durling commented.

  • Winslet to be feted at Santa Barbara Fest

    Kate WinsletWell the consistent snubs for Kate Winslet’s performances this week (other than a brief mention by the BFCA for her work in “The Reader”) should go down a little easier for the actress as it seems she’ll be receiving an award at next month’s Santa Barbara Film Festival for her outstanding career so far.

    The press release, in part:

    “I have had a cinematic crush on Kate Winslet since her first movie,” gushed SBIFF Director Roger Durling.  “She’s my favorite actress of all time…and she will always have a home here at the festival!”

    Since her last visit to Santa Barbara, Winslet has been in numerous films including Little Children, for which she received her fifth Oscar nomination, All The King’s Men, Flushed Away and The Holiday.  Winslet continues her sterling career with two critically-acclaimed performances in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” marking a screen reunion with her Titanic co-star, Leonard DiCaprio, and Stephen Daldry’s post WWII drama, “The Reader,” opposite Ralph Fiennes.

    The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career.

  • Rourke to be feted by Santa Barbara Fest

    Mickey Rourke at the 2008 Venice Film FestivalThe press release, in part:

    It was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, that Mickey Rourke, star of the upcoming “The Wrestler,” will be honored with the American Riviera Award on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

    “America is all about second chances,” commented Durling, “and so it’s appropriate that the American Riviera Award that always goes to a U.S. actor should be given this year to Mickey Rourke – who has shown us with his performance in ‘The Wrestler’ to never underestimate a true artist and his power to reinvent himself.”

    Check out my interview with Rourke here.

  • Kristin Scott Thomas to be honored at Santa Barbara fest

    Kristin Scott ThomasThe press release, in part:

    The Cinema Vanguard Award was created in recognition of an actor who has forged his/her own path – taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film. Formerly known as The Independent Award, it was bestowed last year to Ryan Gosling. This year’s well-deserving recipient is Kristin Scott Thomas, and she will be feted on Tuesday, January 27, 2008.

    Comments [SBIFF Executive Director Roger] Durling, “A masterful performance by a British actress in a French film and a triumphant Broadway debut in Chekhov in the same year – Kristin Scott Thomas is in a league by herself and an artistic force to be reckoned with.”