SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2020 PROGRAM * * * 35TH FESTIVAL OPENS WITH THE U.S. PREMIERE OF A BUMP ALONG THE WAY ​ AND CLOSES WITH SANTA BARBARA DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS ​ * * * FESTIVAL TO PRESENT 47 WORLD PREMIERES AND 71 U.S. PREMIERES ​ ​ ​ ​ * * * BONG JOON-HO RETROSPECTIVE INCLUDING FREE SCREENING OF PARASITE FOLLOWED BY Q&A WITH BONG JOON-HO * * * 20TH ANNIVERSARY FREE SCREENING OF THREE KINGS FOLLOWED BY Q&A WITH DAVID O. RUSSELL * * * 1 Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dec. 30, 2019) –The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented ® ​ th by UGG ,​ announced today the highly anticipated lineup for the 35 ​ edition, which will run January 15 to ​ ​ 25, 2020. The festival will feature 47 world premieres and 71 U.S. premieres from 50 countries, along with ​ ​ ​ ​ tributes with the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs. SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling stated this morning, “For 35 years, SBIFF has been a reflection of the city that hosts this festival - inclusive - diverse - intelligent - warm and welcoming. Celebrating cinema and all of its aspects - has become the conduit to bring together visitors from near and far, locals, old friends - and national and international artists to our beloved town. We're proud of our festival, and grateful for your love and support throughout all these years.” OPENING NIGHT ® SBIFF 2020 will start with the Opening Night Film, presented by UGG ,​ on Wednesday, January 15, at ​ the historic Arlington Theatre with the U.S. Premiere of A BUMP ALONG THE WAY directed by Shelly ​ ​ Love and starring Bronagh Gallagher, Lola Petticrew, Mary Moulds, Dan Gordon and Brendan Farrell. A BUMP ALONG THE WAY is female-led, feel-good, comedy drama set in Derry, Northern Ireland, about ​ a middle-aged woman whose unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand acts as the catalyst for her to finally take control of her life and become the role model her teenage daughter needs and craves. Following the film, the Opening Night Gala will take place in the beautiful outdoor Paseo Nuevo Shops and Restaurants in downtown Santa Barbara. It will feature entertainment, food, libations, and celebrate the start of SBIFF. CLOSING NIGHT For our Closing Night Film on Saturday, January 25, we put the spotlight on Santa Barbara to highlight a series of short documentaries by local filmmakers. This distinctive selection of films covers a range of iconic people and places in the Santa Barbara area including immigrant farm workers, an aging bronc rider, a female cyclist that defied all odds, backpackers exploring the Los Padres National Forest, artists documenting the breathtaking landscapes of the Carrizo Plain, and a celebrated local guitarist who performs in parking garages and public spaces throughout downtown Santa Barbara. The Closing Night Film is sponsored by Winchester Mystery House. THE TRIBUTES SBIFF has become an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 35th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. ● René​e Zellweger will receive the American Riviera Award, sponsored by Bella Vista Designs, on ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Thursday, January 16 at 8:00pm. ​ ​ ● Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will receive The Outstanding Performers of the Year Award, ​ ​ presented by Belvedere Vodka, on Friday, January 17 at 8:00pm. 2 ® ● The Virtuosos Award, presented by UGG ,​ will be awarded to Awkwafina (The Farewell), Taron ​ ​ Egerton (Rocketman), Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart), Aldis Hodge (Clemency), George MacKay (1917), Florence Pugh (Little Women, Midsommar), and Taylor Russell (Waves) on Saturday, January 18 at 8:00pm, moderated by Dave Karger. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● The Variety Artisans Awards, sponsored by Variety, will take place on Sunday, January 19 at 8:00pm, ​ ​ ​ ​ and will be moderated by Tim Gray. Honorees are: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez – ​ Songwriting (Frozen 2), Michael Giacchino – Composing (Jojo Rabbit), Kazu Hiro - Makeup/Hairstyling (Bombshell), Barbara Ling – Production Design (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood), Steve Morrow – Sound Mixing (FORD V. FERRARI), Christopher Peterson and Sandy Powell – Costume Design (The Irishman), Lawrence Sher – Cinematography (Joker), Lee Smith – Editing (1917), and Adam Valdez – VFX (The Lion King) ● Laura Dern will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award on Tuesday, January 21 at 8:00pm. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Brad Pitt will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award, moderated by award namesake Leonard Maltin ​ ​ on Wednesday, January 22 at 8:00pm. ​ ​ ● The Outstanding Directors of the Year Award, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, will be at 8:00pm. ​ ​ ​ Honorees to be announced. All tributes take place at the historic Arlington Theatre with the exception of the Variety Artisans Award which will be at the Lobero Theatre. THE PANELS SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar contenders. ● Producers Panel will take place on Sunday, January 19 at 10:00am moderated by Glenn Whipp. ● Writers Panel will be on Sunday, January 19 at 1:00pm, moderated by Anne Thompson. ● Women’s Panel will be on Saturday, January 25 at 11:00am, moderated by Madelyn Hammond. All panels take place at the Lobero Theatre. Panelists to be announced. BONG JOON-HO RETROSPECTIVE SBIFF will present a retrospective of four landmark films from director Bong Joon-ho that will feature MEMORIES OF MURDER, THE HOST, MOTHER, and a free screening of PARASITE followed by a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Q&A with Bong Joon-ho. DAVID O. RUSSELL’S THREE KINGS 20TH ANNIVERSARY In celebration of its 20th anniversary, SBIFF will present a free screening of THREE KINGS followed by a ​ ​ Q&A with David O. Russell. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND FREE SCREENINGS Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies – Named for renowned nature cinematographer Mike deGruy, Mike’s ​ FieldTrip to the Movies uses filmmaking to stimulate creative, confident, and culturally aware thinkers. th th th The program is offered to 4,000 4 ,​ 5 ,​ and 6 ​ grade students throughout Santa Barbara County and ​ ​ ​ 3 SBIFF provides free transportation to students from Title I schools. This year SBIFF is thrilled to present two critically acclaimed films: FROZEN 2 with directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and TOY STORY 4 ​ ​ ​ with Director Josh Cooley. The directors will participate in a Q&A following the screenings with the students to discuss the craft of animated filmmaking. Sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust, Patagonia, Union Bank, Bentson Foundation and Volentine Family Foundation. Film Studies Program – Returning for its sixth year thanks to the generosity of Lynda Weinman and ​ Bruce Heavin and Netflix, the national student Film Studies Program will bring 30 undergraduate film students from across the country for a three-day symposium with a focus on film appreciation, criticism, and analysis. SBIFF also invites an additional thirty college students in Santa Barbara to take an 11-Day Film Festival course through Santa Barbara City College. AppleBox Family Films – SBIFF will again screen animated feature frontrunners free to families on the ​ weekends of the Festival with complimentary popcorn and refreshments. This year’s screenings will include FROZEN 2 (10:00am on January 18), TOY STORY 4 (10:00am on January 19), and an encore ​ ​ ​ ​ screening of FROZEN 2 (10:00am on January 25). Sponsored by Metropolitan Theatres. ​ ​ 10–10–10 Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Mentorship and Competition – In October, 20 high ​ ​ ​ school and college screenwriters and filmmakers were accepted after a competitive application process before beginning a series of workshops, a table read, and a casting day. Since then, the ten writer/director teams and their crews have worked with industry mentors to produce short films that will be screened on Saturday, January 25 at 2:00pm at The Arlington Theatre, with an announcement of the winning scripts and films following the screening. Sponsored by Final Draft Inc. Free Public Screenings – SBIFF will again offer critically acclaimed film screenings free to the public at ​ the Lobero Theatre everyday throughout the Festival. Free Filmmaker Seminars – SBIFF will again present educational seminars that will be FREE to the ​ public and will take place in the Festival Pavilion daily at 11:00am. Super Silent Monday – On Monday, January 20 at 7:00pm, SBIFF will present the 1923 classic THE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME starring Lon Chaney at the Arlington Theatre completely free to the ​ ​ public. Live accompaniment will be provided by Adam Aceto on the theatre’s Wonder Morton pipe organ. ​ ​ Admission is Free. Sponsored by Winchester Mystery House. Youth CineMedia – SBIFF presents a documentary film series produced entirely by teens involved in the ​ ​ ​ ​ Youth CineMedia program. Striving to help children transition away from gang life, drugs, and alcohol and into college and careers in music, photography, and video production, the organization offers creative tools, training, and support for underprivileged and at–risk teens. Free to the public with Q&A following on Saturday, January 25. FOCUS ON SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara Filmmakers – The Santa Barbara filmmaking community continues to captivate and ​ inspire audiences with this year’s impressive lineup. Santa Barbara filmmakers provide a diverse, thought–provoking series of features and shorts. 4 The ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties – This award will be ​ presented to a dramatic film in the festival that represents an important addition to the efforts of the ADL ​ ​ "to secure justice and fair treatment for all." 35th Festival Poster Unveiled - Barbara Boros has designed the SBIFF poster each year for 17 years, ​ this year highlighting Santa Barbara’s Rainbow Chromatic Gate. ​ ​ Official Festival Hub – The official festival hub will again be located at Hotel Santa Barbara, returning for th ​ their 17 ​ year as supporters of SBIFF. ​ 2020 FILMS Below is the list of feature and short films at the 2020 SBIFF.