SANTA BARBARA FILMMAKERS

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WORLD PREMIERE In facing the invisible horrors of nightmares, one must conquer unimaginable terror. Three-time SBIFF entrant and local filmmaker Mark Stouffer (DIAMOND DOG CAPER, WILD AMERICA, MAN OUTSIDE) shows the power of good over evil and the battle of human versus alien in his latest film, CREATURE OF DARKNESS. Fueled by a youthful combination of freedom, adrenaline and lust, a group of friends travel to the outskirts of a military base. Led by Andrew (Devon Sawa), they play by day, and at night they face The Collector, a terrorizing alien scientist seeking perfect human specimens for his museum. To destroy the alien fiend, they must not only face their own fears, but they must also expose a secret. Screening with: THE LAST CONFESSION

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WORLD PREMIERE DEAD HORSE OPERA follows a dynamic young musician named Wil Ridge as he perfects his own brand of alternative country music over the course of eight years. He moves from a job hauling dead horses away from private ranches on the central coast of California to releasing an album—and ultimately to touring Europe with his band. Ridge does all of this while learning how to deal with loss and addiction and how to avoid becoming his own worst enemy.

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An informative, enlightened and inspiring “how-to,” GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP looks at construction, remodeling and re-envisioning green building in Santa Barbara. Filled with the voices of green builders on the Santa Barbara scene, the film illustrates the myriad approaches to eco-friendly design, architecture, engineering and construction. It showcases how to create structures that complement their sites, how to preserve the lots they occupy, and how to make efficient use of available light, water and ground systems. Highlighting eco-design and solutions that are cost-effective and easy, GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP is an exciting look at local innovative approaches to architecture and building.-Candace Schermerhorn

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WORLD PREMIERE State Street shops and eateries, lush Santa Barbara homes, and the lives of intelligent but volatile couples intersect at the hands of anger management psychiatrist Wilbur Waskowicks who instructs his patients to curb their anger within their own hands, and to "hold it like a baby." In this dark comedy by local filmmakers Michael and Tina Love, Wilbur becomes a self-proclaimed avenger against the insensitivity he sees all around him. What Wilbur must face is how to harness his own anger as it bubbles over with explosive energy. With a concluding eruption like no other, these lives fully cross paths. The audaciously funny fervor is marked by compassionate laughter and irreverent sarcasm as one finger of the formerly receptive hands points at the dysfunctions in all people, and reveals the consequences of everyone's own shameless and angry actions.

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Since 2000, two-time Grammy award winners Linkin Park—the band from just down the 101—has sold more than 50 million records. Along the way, Santa Barbara filmmaker Mark Fiore has been making their music videos. For their latest album, Minutes to Midnight, Fiore spent time in the studio with the band and legendary producer Rick Rubin and produced a documentary about the experience. In addition, his video of the album's cut “Given Up,” shot in the 02 Arena in London, scored more than 10 million hits on YouTube. Fiore and members of Linkin Park will be at the screening of these two films to explain how their collaborative process works and what it is like to be at the center of one of modern rock's biggest success stories. Screening with: GIVEN UP, dir. Mark Fiore and THE SEED, dir. Joe Hahn

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WORLD PREMIERE LUIS LEAL: A JOURNEY OF 100 YEARS is the biography of an outstanding educator, scholar and human being who has won national and international awards and honors and continues to live a rich life at the age of 100. A World War II veteran, Leal received the Aguila Azteca Award from the Mexican Government in 1991 and the National Humanities Medal from President Clinton in 1997. He received a doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Illinois, Urbana, 2000. At the age of 69, he came to Santa Barbara to retire but he immediately began teaching at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he taught for more than 30 years. A prolific and distinguished scholar, Dr. Leal has written more than 45 books and 400 articles. Screening with: MY FRIENDS CALL ME MISS CHASE

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WORLD PREMIERE At seventeen, Luke is too young to vote, but he's not too young to make a difference. After campaigning for Barack Obama for more than a year, he decides to travel to the Democratic National Convention in Denver to see Obama deliver his acceptance speech, hoping he can find a ticket once he gets there. MILE HIGH follows Luke on his journey from Super Tuesday to Denver to Election Day. Along the way, the film delves into Luke's past and his hopes for the future. We also see the presidential candidates themselves talking to pundits and media experts about what it took to win—and lose—the White House in 2008.

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WORLD PREMIERE The image of Haiti in mainstream and alternative media is almost entirely negative: an endless stream of poverty, violence, and natural disasters. POTO MITAN: HAITIAN WOMEN, PILLARS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY provides viewers a historical context and an understanding of people confronting these socioeconomic issues. By sharing the lives of five courageous Haitian women, POTO MITAN gives the global economy a human face. These five brave women demonstrate that despite monumental obstacles in a poor country like Haiti, collective action makes change possible. POTO MITAN aims to inspire solidarity activism to end injustice in the global economy. Fighting for justice—for women, for workers, or for Haiti—can only achieve our own liberation. Screening with: PASCAL'S BIKE

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THE ROAD TO FALLUJAH is an eye-opening documentary that gives a glimpse into the often-overlooked repercussions and effects of the highly controversial war in Iraq. Perceiving a lack of unbiased information about the situation in Iraq, Mark Manning sets off on a mission to experience and document the reality of war from the perspective of the Iraqi people. Teaming up with a humanitarian aid worker and journalist from Iraq, Rana Al-Aioby, Manning was unembedded and was without armed security to become the first westerner to live with the people of Fallujah, Iraq. This feature-length documentary is a joint production between American and Iraqi filmmakers and contains interviews with Iraqi civilians, refugees, resistance fighters, members of the American military and Congress, media analysts, Islamic scholars, and leaders of world peace.-Rachel Ostwald

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THE DARK SIDE OF THE LOON - USA, 2008, 43min., Dir. Gail Osherenko The eerie calls and striking black and white plumage of the Common loon captivate those of us who spend time on northern lakes and ponds between April and October. Then the loons disappear. Quiet descends. Where do they go? How do they survive in winter? THE FUTURE OF THE GAVIOTA COAST - USA, 2008, 19min., Dir. Shaw Leonard, Marc Mirabile A short documentary film focusing on the coastal preservation of the Gaviota Coastline in Southern California. SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: RESTORING BALANCE - USA, 2008, 20min., Dir. Michael Hanrahan An island off the coast of California endures massive shifts in its ecological balance as a result of ranching an unforeseen circumstances. Dedicated scientists study the problem and attempt to restore balance to this delicate island ecosystem.

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ANATOMY OF NUMBERS - 2008, 10min., Dir. Erin Cantelo Patrick asks his new love how many people she has slept with and gets an answer he did not bargain for. A ROOM FOR SARAH - 2009, 9min., Dir. Ginger Swanson A Room for Sara is a 1920's era silent comedy about a courageous young woman left to her own devices to claim her independence. BUSINESS - USA, 2008, 19min., Dir. John McKinney Caleb inherited an office building and made a big mistake when he asked his friend Walker to go into business him. THE EARLY WORM - USA, 2008, 9min., Dir. Ray Pivato A chain reaction of misfortune befalls a young professional whose only crime is waking an hour too early. EN ROUTE - USA, 2009, 4min., Dir. Karl Mefford A driver with a mysterious briefcase steers his way through the treacheries of the open road. With time running out, he races towards his final destination. THE FISHERMAN - 2008, 10min., Dir. Jason Hallows The tale of a poor fisherman who accidentally pulls his destiny from the sea. SARAH - USA, 2008, 8min., Dir. Rashi Bahri Chitnis With the deep desire to connect with her mother, Sarah decides to tackle her hydrophobia by learning to swim, only to discover, that there are deeper hidden secrets in the water than just her fear of it! SHOWING DISASTER: TEA FIRE REFLECTIONS - USA, 4min., Dir. Ethan Turpin While recording a wild fire and the homes it has destroyed, the filmmaker grapples with the ethics of photographing the ruins of peoples' lives. WE HAVE LOST OUR WINGS BUT STILL WE DREAM OF FLYING - USA, 2008, 7min., Dir. Elia Vargas The unraveling of consciousness. A dreadful fantasy.

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BUBBLES AND SEASHELLS - USA, 2008, 7min., Dir. Jameson Jordan A screenwriter attempts to make a movie about all the things that make us happy but finds out why he cannot. APPARITION - USA, 2008, 7min., Dir. Daniel Gruen A weekend getaway turns to tragedy when three friends are cursed by a deadly prophecy. THE BEHOLDER - USA, 6min., Dir. Roxanne Teti Follows the routine of an anorexic teenager who soon discovers a loss of individuality when she realizes the face in the mirror is literally not her own. CLAMS WITH GREEN ONIONS - USA, 2008, 12min., Dir. Sheena McCann A young woman charmed by the gross and mundane enjoys a love affair that may not exist. IMA - USA, 2008, 6min., Dir. Jeremy Cohen Shortly after the liberation of Auschwitz, two survivors meet a young Hitler Youth searching for his mother. The irony of the situation leads one of the survivors to seek revenge, and the situation looks dire until all find redemption in someone else's mother. JESUS BLUES - USA, 2008, 7min., Dir. Max Littman A restless young girl slips out of church during a sermon by her alcoholic pastor to follow a guitar-clad Jesus and a homeless sax performer on a musical adventure. NO CORNER FOR OLD MIME - USA, 2008, 11min., Dir. Jordan Riggs Just because you can't make a sound doesn't mean you can't go out with a bang! TEN MINUTES TO ITHACA - USA, 2008, 10min., Dir. Zac Palladino The Odyssey: compressed, mashed, twisted, and animated into a ten minute frame.

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WORLD PREMIERE WHIZ KIDS is a feature-length documentary film about a group of teenagers in America, each of whom has chosen science as a major driving force in their lives. Seeking to break the stereotypes of scientists as monotonous and humorless, WHIZ KIDS presents complex and intimate portrayals of young people from diverse family, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds and their individual love for and admiration of all things science. Some have spent copious amounts of time conducting research experiments at elite scientific institutions, while others have created inventions in their own basements and backyards; however, they all share the same curiosity and wonderment about science. WHIZ KIDS follows some of the students on their journey navigating through high school and the world of science fair competitions where the stakes can be up to a million dollars worth of prizes and scholarships.-Rachel Ostwald

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Youth CineMedia is a nationally recognized program that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to help teach teenagers the fundamentals of digital video, music production, photography and other multimedia. Youth CineMedia (YCM) also provides area youth with the means to create inspiring, thought-provoking media that promotes dialogue and social change, as well as the training, knowledge and relationships that help foster expression and confidence. YCM is currently a program of Zona Seca and collaborates with Primo Boxing, The Granada Teen Project, the Creeks Division for the City of Santa Barbara and others.YCM focuses its outreach on underserved communities, with an emphasis on youth from low-income or newly-immigrated families, or those with an unfortunate history of below average school performance, substance abuse or involvement in the juvenile justice system.The Youth Cinemedia Shorts Program is a FREE program - no tickets or passes are needed Youth Cinemedia Documentaries FINDING NEMO - THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A CHOLO Produced by: Maximina Carachure MY QUINCEANERA Produced by: Selena Chavez A SECOND CHANCE - LIBERTY TATTOO REMOVAL Produced by: Omar Ceja HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS - THE EVICTION OF 90 SANTA BARBARA KIDS Produced by: Gonzalo Rios REMEMBERING EMANUEL ROLDAN R.I.P. Produced by: Reynaldo Lopez, Eric Guerrero BEHIND THE SCENES WITH YOUTH CINEMEDIA 2002-2009 Produced by YCM Students & Staff BREAKING ADDICTIONDirected & Produced by: Brian RuizYouth Cinemedia Envrionmental Shorts JOSE AT WEST BEACHProduced by: Jose Almanza NATIVE PLANTING CRUISIN' CREEKS OCEANO JONES ADVENTURE CLUB STEPHAN'S PARK Youth Cinemedia & Primo Boxing FIGHT BACK AGAINST HIV/AIDS 10 THINGS ABOUT ME BOXING WITH A SURFER Youth Cinemedia & The Granada Teen Project BE SAFE BE AWARE THE GRANADA HARD HAT OPENING CLASSICAL MUSIC PARA TODOS Live musical performances by: Sleepy Loka, Dosia, and El Kid

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