SBIFF 2023 Oscars from Cate Blanchett to Angela Bassett

Santa Barbara is one of the most important stops on the awards circuit, with many star-studded panels and recognition.

Under veteran executive director Roger Durling, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Feb. 8-18, 2023) thrived by riding the awards wave and programming plenty of on-stage interviews with Oscar contenders.

This year’s edition is a return to a fully live, in-person film festival. The festival presents 52 world premieres and 78 US premieres from 43 countries, with free community education and outreach programs.

Every year, screenwriters, directors and producers promote their films at panels, and the likes of Kristen Stewart, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Bong Joon Ho, Adam Driver, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan, Bruce Dern , Jeff Bridges, Melissa McCarthy, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, Rami Malek, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Sam Elliott and many more submit to a profound tribute.

Panels, tributes and special screenings attract local filmmakers and Academy members eager to hear Oscar contenders talk about their creative process. All tributes and tableaus will be in person at the Arlington Theater.

The first weekend, Saturday, February 11th at 11 a.m., I will be moderating the annual Writers Panel, filled with Oscar nominees from films like “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “The Fabelmans, ” “Everything everywhere at once”, “Onion: The mystery that can be delayed”, “Live”, “LIBRARY” and “Women speak”.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 5: Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks onstage at the Writers Panel during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theater on March 5, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California.  (Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Maggie Gyllenhaal speaks on stage at the Writers Panel at the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Getty Images for SBIFF

The Tribute program starts on Thursday, February 9, with the recognition of Oscar nominee Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) with the Montecito Award, moderated by Roger Durling.

On Friday, February 10, Academy Award nominee Cate Blanchett (“LIBRARY”) will be honored with the Outstanding Performer of the Year award, moderated by Scott Feinberg.

The Maltin Modern Master Award honoring Oscar nominee Jamie Lee Curtis will take place on Saturday, February 11th, moderated by Leonard Maltin.

On Tuesday, February 14, Oscar nominee Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) will host the American Riviera Awards, moderated by Pete Hammond.

Each year, TCM’s Dave Karger moderates the Virtuoso Awards, which will be presented on February 16 by Austin Butler (“Elvis”), Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”), Nina Hoss (“LIBRARY “) gets. , Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Jeremy Pope (“The Inspection”), Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Jeremy Strong (“Armageddon Time”).

Also on February 16 and moderated by Karger will be the Cinema Vanguard Award honoring Banshees Oscar nominees Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

Returning to SBIFF’s Arlington Theater is the annual Writers, Producers and Women’s Panel, as well as the Panel of New International Directors.

Writers Panel – Saturday, February 11, 11:00 a.m. – Moderated by Anne Thompson
Women’s Panel – Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. – Moderated by Claudia Puig
Producer Panel – Sunday, February 12 at 11:00 a.m. – Moderated by Glenn Whipp
International Directors Panel – Sunday 12 February 14:00 – Moderated by Roger Durling

The 38th edition kicks off on Wednesday, February 8, with the world premiere of the Michelle Danner-directed kidnapping drama “Victim of Miranda,” starring Abigail Breslin, Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Donald Sutherland, Mireille Enos and Andy Garcia.

The festival closes on Saturday, February 18 with the US premiere of “I Like Movies” directed by Chandler Levack and starring Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White.

The full program is listed here.

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