Catch showings of Academy Award contenders and spot Hollywood stars at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). The event screens more than 200 films and features Q&As with moviemakers, as well as panels with screenwriters, producers, and directors.
What Is the Santa Barbara Film Festival?
The city of Santa Barbara, nicknamed the American Riviera, rolls out the red carpet every year for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which draws hundreds of actors, directors, producers, and others from the film industry to the beautiful Central Coast.
The festival typically takes place in late January to early February. As a nonprofit arts and educational organization, the SBIFF has been putting on this event, one of the leading film festivals in the United States, for over three decades, and in 2016 acquired a magnificent state-of-the-art year-round home in the Riviera Theater. More than 200 films are screened for 100,000 attendees over the festival’s 11 days, with programming that includes independent and foreign films, as well as documentaries and more edgy productions from some of your favorite directors.
What to Expect at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
The kickoff gala, which requires a ticket, is open to the public and takes place in downtown Santa Barbara’s beautiful Paseo Nuevo shopping district. After a screening of the opening-night film in the 2,000-plus capacity Arlington Theatre, the party moves outside where drinks, dancing, and live music is the order of business until late.
On subsequent evenings, the Arlington also hosts a succession of intimate Celebrity Tributes, also open to the public but require a ticket, which consist of a 90-minute conversation and reflection, complete with a highlight reel culled from each star’s body of work. Past winners such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Denzel Washington, Robert Downey Jr., and many others have been given such honors as the Maltin Modern Master Award (for lifetime achievement), the American Riviera Awards (for contribution to American film), and seven others.
Other awards offer free events and screenings throughout the week so that those on a budget can join in on the red carpet fun. Nightly events include special panels with big-names from the film industry – a great chance to get a peek into movie-making magic.
When Do Celebrities Attend the SBIFF?
If one had to single out a main event of the SBIFF, though, it would undoubtedly be the black-tie fundraiser dinner for the presentation of the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. This night consistently draws A-list celebrities, making for a true night of stars. Recent honorees include Hugh Jackman, Ryan Gosling, Dame Judi Dench, Michelle Yeoh, and Robert DeNiro. Tickets to this event are available to the public, but are on the pricey side.
How to Get Tickets to the SBIFF
Tickets are available through the festival’s official website, where you can purchase individual screening tickets, passes, and special event access. Festival badges and passes—such as All-Access or Select passes—typically go on sale in advance of the event and provide priority entry to multiple screenings and industry panels. Individual screening tickets are released in phases, often with early purchase discounts for members and badge holders.
Because popular films and gala events sell out quickly, it’s recommended to create an account on the SBIFF ticketing portal, sign up for email alerts, and plan your schedule ahead of time. During the festival, box offices at venue locations also sell tickets subject to availability.
Things to Do Before and After the SBIFF
Between screenings, lean into Santa Barbara’s cinematic charm with a few well-timed side trips. Live out your own Nancy Meyers–style movie fantasy at the Montecito Country Mart, an immaculately curated shopping center filled with children’s boutiques, fashionable resort wear, and elevated housewares, then reward yourself with one of Bettina’s perfectly charred wood-fired pizzas, made with ingredients sourced from the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers’ Market.
For fresh air and coastal drama, ride into the sunset on a guided horseback adventure with Los Padres Outfitters, whose 90-minute rides start above Summerland and wind down to the beach, with picnic options available. You can also step into old-world romance on a guided tour of Casa del Herrero, the storied 1925 Montecito estate designed by architect George Washington Smith.
For more things to do, consider some of the city’s more under-the-radar attractions and activities, the variety of outdoor adventures visitors can seek out, and this round-up of five amazing things to do in Santa Barbara.
Where to Stay and Eat While at the SBIFF
Santa Barbara has a wide range of lodging options, from intimate boutique properties and historic inns to beachfront accommodations. Peruse this piece on luxury resorts in the area and check the tourist board site for ongoing Santa Barbara hotel deals. When it’s time to eat, consider the spots featured in this Dining in Santa Barbara piece, or this article on 5 Hot Restaurants in Santa Barbara.