Will the Santa Barbara Film Festival be Held This Year? Yes!

The Show Must Go On!
Will the Santa Barbara Film Festival be held this year while many who live in Santa Barbara and Montecito struggle with the effects of the recent destructive wildfire and devastating mudslide? The answer is YES! As the clean-up continues, however, residents are finding solace in daily acts of heroism and compassion, and are blessed with the healing powers of our traditional events such as the Santa Barbara Film Festival. So, will the Santa Barbara Film Festival be held this year? Absolutely. This year’s Festival will run January 31-February 10 and will feature 45 world premieres, along with 53 U.S. premieres.
Meantime, festival director Roger Durling sent out an open letter addressing the tragedy and why the SBIFF will go on as planned. After reading it, I felt moved to share it with you:
Dear Cinephiles,
Many people have been asking me if the Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place. My answer is an emphatic “Yes.”
How do you do a film festival following the immense tragedy unfolding in Montecito and Southern California? Well – the honest answer is that it is needed now more than ever.
Movies have always provided a sense of community. It is an opportunity for people to gather – reflect – experience – feel – and process.
Throughout most of the 1930’s, during the Great Depression, Americans flocked to theatres. They did not do this because movies can be easily categorized as a distraction. Yes, audiences welcomed the chance to laugh, forget their problems, and get out of the cold – but most importantly – by going to the movies, audiences felt less isolated as they experienced emotions together. They were together.
As we move ahead with the film festival – and remember those we have lost and thank our first responders – we also want to help those who remain in need. To that end, we will be highlighting each day of our event the organizations that are working tirelessly to help those affected and encouraging attendees and our sponsors to support these efforts. We will keep you updated on our website on all of these details.
The Santa Barbara community built this film festival in 1986 – and their love and pride – grew into what it is today. Movies have always had an immeasurable power to heal. As Santa Barbara to recover, we welcome and encourage film lovers and visitors to gather around our strong, beautiful and resilient community.
I look forward to seeing you from January 31 to February 10.
-Roger Durling
The Santa Barbara Film Festival director’s sentiments are an example of the compassion and strength of the residents in and around Montecito. By using my professional knowledge and experience in Santa Barbara and Montecito real estate, I pledge to do my best to assist my fellow residents and visitors in need of new homes. If you’re planning to attend the Santa Barbara Film Festival – whether you are a local or a film buff from out of town considering joining our incredible community — I invite you to explore Montecito, Hope Ranch or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities via my website, then call me at [ai_phone href=”805.886.9378″]805.886.9378[/ai_phone] or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I hope you’ll help spread the word when your fellow film buffs ask, “Will the Santa Barbara Film Festival be held this year?”. Your answer should be, “Yes! The Show Must Go On!”