Taking place January 30 – February 8, the 19th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will feature 6 World Premieres, 2 North American Premiere, 6 U.S. Premieres, a World Cinema section and a Latin Film Section as well as Sidebars featuring Women in Cinema, Musicals and Cult Classics. It’s the perfect spot for you gluttons that didn’t get enough punishment in snowy Park City.
Opening Night of the festival, Friday, January 30, will feature a screening of “Valentin,” Argentina’s Academy Award submission, directed by Alejandro Agresti. After the bitter separation of his parents and having lived with his eccentric grandmother, the life of a young boy begins to change in sweetly unanticipated ways when he opens up to the last in a long line of potential stepmothers.
The special Centerpiece Screening is “Dogville,” directed by Lars von Trier, featuring a beefy cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Harriet Andersson, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson, Ben Gazzara, Chloë Sevigny and Stellan Skarsgård. Mmmmm…beeeef.
Closing Night, Sunday, February 8, at the Granada Theatre will begin with the Awards presentation, followed by a screening of “The Reckoning,” directed by Paul McGuigan starring Willem Dafoe, Paul Bettany and Brian Cox star in this murder mystery set in the Middle Ages. A priest forsakes his oath to God and joins a transient acting troupe lead by a man who wants to depict morality with new stories. Together, they manage to unearth the secrets and lies behind the killing of a young boy.
Films also scheduled to screen at the festival include Particles of Truth, Terra, Undermind, “Bright Young Things,” Go Further, Home of the Brave, The Mayor of Sunset Strip, Walkentalk and Tom Hits His Head.
For more info, visit the Santa Barbara International Film Festival website.
