Winning Films Announced at SBIFF

Photo: Fritz Olenberger

Source: SBIFF

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by UGG®, will return for the 36th edition January 27th – February 6th, 2021. 200+ Films featuring over 120 World and US premieres, Industry Panels, Celebrity Tributes, and Educational and Free Community Programs will be held throughout Santa Barbara.

“It’s been a wonderful 35 years celebrating international cinema as well as our local roots. We are grateful for all of the staff, volunteers, audiences and filmmakers that were able to join us at SBIFF to come together as a community to celebrate over 200 films – forge a sense of community and love that defies boundary,” SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.

Also announced [Saturday] were the award-winning films for the 35th Festival at a breakfast held in their honor at Belmond El Encanto. All awards were announced, culminating in the coveted Audience Choice Award sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent, which went to Richard Hobert’s The Birdcatcher’s Son (Fågelfångarens son). The films were chosen by jury members Jason Baffa, Max Barbakow, Lisa Black, Alex Carter, Geoff Green, Paul Kurta, Perry Lang, Artie Schmidt, Rita Taggart, Diego Tinoco, John Williams, and Anthony & Arnette Zerbe.

Congratulations to ALL the Winners:

Audience Choice Award sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent:

Richard Hobert’s The Birdcatcher’s Son (Fågelfångarens son)

Best Documentary Short Film Award:

Henry Roosevelt’s Sixth of June

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film:

Jianna Maartin’s Sin Cielo

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film:

Jonathan Langager’s Cosmic Fling

Best Documentary Award sponsored by SEE International:

Brian Morrison’s Bastards’ Road

Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film:

Fatos Berisha’s The Flying Circus (Cirku Fluturues)

Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema:

William Nicholson’s Hope Gap

Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema:

Gerardo Herrero’s The Goya Murders

Valhalla Award for Best Nordic Film:

Jesper W. Nielsen’s The Exception (Undtagelsen)

ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties:

Lydia Dean Pilcher’s Liberté: A Call to Spy

Social Justice Award for Documentary Film:

Katherin Hervey’s The Prison Within

Third Weekend Films Announced!

We are excited to announce we will once again be showing select award winning films from the 2020 SBIFF during our 3RD WEEKEND!

As a thank you to our community, films we will be shown for FREE! No tickets necessary, seating will be on a first come first served basis at SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre.

Friday, January 31 – 6:30 PM
The Flying Circus – Winner Jeffrey C Barbakow Best International Feature Film

A troupe of actors from Kosovo weigh the risks of illegally crossing the border into Albania in the hope of meeting their idol, Monty Python’s Michael Palin.

Saturday, February 1 – 6:30 PM
The Birdcatcher’s Son – Winner Audience Choice Award sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent

In this period drama set against the rugged landscape of the Faroe Islands, birdcatcher Esmar and his wife face eviction from their farm unless they have a son.

Sunday, February 2 – 6:30 PM
Bastards’ Road – Winner Best Documentary Award sponsored by SEE International

In this story of pain, hope, and redemp-tion, an Iraq War veteran embarks on a 5,800-mile journey across the coun-try—on foot—to visit fellow veterans and families of the fallen.