The 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival Brings a Feast of Movie Magic to Town

Movies — in all of their glittering, larger-than-life glory, as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen in the company of fellow human beings — are taking over downtown Santa Barbara starting on Wednesday, February 4, and running for 11 days and nights, as the highly anticipated Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) takes the spotlight on our cultural calendar. 

With a star-studded lineup of tributes on the horizon and 46 world film premieres and 80 U.S. premieres from 50 countries, one of the most anticipated elements of the 41st film festival is the grand opening of SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art headquarters, the McHurley Film Center, at 916 State Street. After taking over the former Fiesta 5 Theater lease in late 2024, SBIFF has completed an impressive down-to-the-studs, state-of-the-art renovation, and the five new theaters will make their grand entrance just in time for SBIFF this year. 

The ceremonial unveiling of SBIFF’s plans — and this year’s official poster image — took place at Sullivan Goss Gallery today when Executive Director Roger Durling led a gathering of press through a brief overview of what’s to come. Artist Baret Boisson created the 2025 poster, an otherworldly multidimensional painting with a compelling and very timely message about the importance of artistic expression. And in keeping with the theme of freedom of expression, Boisson said that Durling (who profiled the artist in this 2024 Independent cover story) gave her complete artistic license to bring her vision for the poster to life. 

“This is an incredibly special year because of the state of the art new home of the film festival,” said Durling. “The McHurley Film Center will open to the public on February 5, the day after the film festival starts. So we’re all going to have an opening night at the Arlington and then all of the 10 days of cinema will take place at the new McHurley Film Center, and it’s going to be pretty spectacular.”

The opening night film (Feb. 4) is the U.S. premiere of A Mosquito in the Ear. Written and directed by Nicola Rinciari, the film stars Jake Lacy (The White Lotus), Nazanin Boniadi, and Ruhi Pal. Rinciari and Co-Writer Emily Dillard will be joining in person for the screening. The story follows an American couple as they travel to Goa, India, to bring home their newly adopted 4-year-old daughter, Sarvari. But their world begins to unravel when Sarvari refuses to leave the orphanage she calls home. The couple’s attempt to safely ferry their new child from India to the U.S. proves to be an untenable task filled with chaos, intermarital conflict, and adventure around every corner.

“It’s a very prescient, timely film about just getting along in the world, and being open to different cultures and about family,” said Durling. 

The closing night film (Feb. 14) is the U.S. premiere of Laundry (Uhlanjululo), written and directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi and starring Ntobeko Sishi and Tracy September. Mkhwanazi will be joining in person. The film takes place in Johannesburg, 1968. Khuthala hates his father’s laundry and doesn’t want to take over the family business, but the Apartheid government is cracking down on Black business ownership. Khuthala is torn between pursuing his own dream of becoming a musician and fighting against the injustice that threatens the business — his only means of subsistence and the glue that holds his family together.

Durling also added, “I’m super excited to announce that we’re doing a big Julian Schnabel retrospective. Julian Schnabel is one of the greatest artists and painters working in this day and age, and he’s also a renowned filmmaker.” SBIFF will feature his past work, including Basquiat (black-and-white restoration), Before Night Falls, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and At Eternity’s Gate. These screenings will be followed by the U.S. premiere of Schnabel’s new film, In the Hand of Dante, starring Oscar Isaac, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Gal Gadot, Martin Scorsese, and more. Julian Schnabel will attend for a Q&A.

Always a starry highlight, the tributes will all take place at the Arlington Theatre and feature the following artists (note: Durling indicated that the additional honorees will be announced following the Academy Award nominations announcement on January 22):

●  Maltin Modern Master Award honoring Adam Sandler: Thursday, February 5, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.

●  American Riviera Award: Friday, February 6, at 8 p.m. Honoree to be announced. 

●  Variety Artisans Award: Saturday, February 7, at 8 p.m.  Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.

●  Virtuosos Award presented by Nora McNeely Hurley Foundation honoring Jacob Elordi, Chase Infiniti, Amy Madigan, Wagner Moura, Renate Reinsve, Sydney Sweeney, Teyana Taylor, and Jeremy Allen White: Sunday, February 8, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Dave Karger.

●  Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award honoring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro: Monday, February 9, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Pete Hammond.

●  Outstanding Directors of the Year Award: Tuesday, February 10, at 8 p.m. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.

●  Montecito Award honoring Stellan Skarsgård: Wednesday, February 11, at 8 p.m.

●  Outstanding Performer of the Year Award presented by Nora McNeely Hurley Foundation honoring Michael B. Jordan: Thursday, February 12, at 8 p.m. Moderated by Roger Durling.

●  Arlington Artist of the Year Award honoring Kate Hudson: Friday, February 13, at 8 p.m.

2026 FILMS

Here is the list of feature and short films at the 2026 SBIFF, listed alphabetically by film title.. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.

2026 SBIFF FEATURE FILMS

22 WORLD PREMIERES AND 51 US PREMIERES

#VIRAL (#拡散)

Directed by King Bai

US Premiere

Japan

Ablaze (Les Braises)

Directed by Thomas Kruithof

US Premiere

France

Abril

Directed by Hernan Jimenez

US Premiere

Costa Rica

Adam’s Sake (L’intérêt d’Adam)

Directed by Laura Wandel

US Premiere

Belgium, France

Aki

Directed by Darlene Naponse

US Premiere

Canada

All of the Above

Directed by Allison Walsh

World Premiere

United States

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez

Directed by David Alvarado

United States

The Art of Adventure

Directed by Alison Reid

US Premiere

Canada

Artists in Residence

Directed by Katie Jacobs

United States

ASCO: Without Permission

Directed by Travis Gutiérrez Senger

United States

The Big Cheese

Directed by Sara Joe Wolansky

United States

Blood Lines

Directed by Gail Maurice

US Premiere

Canada

Bookends

Directed by Mike Doyle

World Premiere

United States

Broken Voices (Sbormistr)

Directed by Ondřej Provazník

Czech Republic, Slovakia

California Scenario

Directed by James Takata

World Premiere

United States

The Cost of Heaven

Directed by Mathieu Denis

US Premiere

Canada

A Cowboy in London

Directed by Jared L. Christopher

World Premiere

United States

Cuba & Alaska

Directed by Yegor Troyanovsky

US Premiere

Ukraine, France, Belgium

Dear Lara

Directed by Lara St. John

World Premiere

Canada, United States

Death and Life Madalena (Morte e Vida Madalena)

Directed by Guto Parente

US Premiere

Brazil, Portugal

Diya

Directed by Achille Ronaimou

Chad

Don’t Call Me Mama (Se meg)

Directed by Nina Knag

US Premiere

Norway

Eternal Stoke

Directed by Joshua Pomer

World Premiere

United States

The Eyes of Ghana

Directed by Ben Proudfoot

United States

Father’s Day (La Fête des Pères)

Directed by Ayana O’Shun

US Premiere

Canada

The Fisherman

Directed by Zoey Martinson

Ghana

The Gas Station Attendant

Directed by Karla Murthy

United States

Gaslit

Directed by Katie Camosy

World Premiere

United States

The Heart is a Muscle

Directed by Imran Hamdulay

US Premiere

South Africa, Saudi Arabia

Holy Days

Directed by Nathalie Boltt

World Premiere

Canada, New Zealand

I Swear

Directed by Kirk Jones

United Kingdom

If These Walls Could Rock

Directed by Tyler Measom, Craig A. Williams

United States

Imbalance

Directed by Dale Griffiths Stamos

World Premiere

United States

In The Hand of Dante

Directed by Julian Schnabel

US Premiere

United States, Italy

In the Land of Arto (Le Pays d’Arto)

Directed by Tamara Stepanyan

US Premiere

France, Armenia

In the Room

Directed by Brishkay Ahmed

US Premiere

Canada

The Incredible Snow Woman (L’ Incroyable femme des neiges)

Directed by Sébastien Betbeder

US Premiere

France

Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream (Irkalla Hulm Jijiljamish)

Directed by Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji

US Premiere

Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, France, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia

Kim Novak’s Vertigo

Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe

United States

The Last Picture Shows

Directed by Rustin Thompson

World Premiere

United States

Laundry (Uhlanjululo)

Directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi

US Premiere

South Africa

Let Me Paint My World for You (Ich male dir meine Welt)

Directed by Andrea Christina Furrer

World Premiere

Germany, Switzerland

Life After Siham (La Vie après Siham)

Directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh

US Premiere

France, Egypt

A Life Illuminated

Directed by Tasha Van Zandt

United States

Little Lorraine

Directed by Andy Hines

US Premiere

Canada

Los Tigres

Directed by Alberto Rodríguez

US Premiere

Spain

Lost Land (Harà Watan)

Directed by Akio Fujimoto

US Premiere

Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany

Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers)

Directed by Philippe Falardeau

Canada

The Luminous Life (A Vida Luminosa)

Directed by João Rosas

US Premiere

Portugal, France

Maturity (L’Âge mûr)

Directed by Jean-Benoît Ugeux

US Premiere

Belgium

Maysoon

Directed by Nancy Biniadaki

US Premiere

Germany, Greece

Mockbuster

Directed by Anthony Frith

US Premiere

Australia, United States

Mortician

Directed by Abdolreza Kahani

US Premiere

Canada

A Mosquito in the Ear

Directed by Nicola Rinciari

World Premiere

India, Italy, United States

No Mercy

Directed by Isa Willinger

Germany, Austria

No Ordinary Heist

Directed by Colin McIvor

World Premiere

Ireland

Nomad Shadow (Thal Badaoui)

Directed by Eimi Imanishi

US Premiere

United States, Spain, France

Not Made for Politics (Süsteemist väljas)

Directed by Volia Chajkouskaya

US Premiere

Estonia

Notes of a True Criminal (Zapiski nastoyashego prestupnika)

Directed by Alexander Rodnyansky, Andriy Alferov

US Premiere

Ukraine, United States

Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers

Directed by John H. Cunningham

World Premiere

United States

On The End

Directed by Ari Selinger

United States

The Ozu Diaries

Directed by Daniel Raim

United States

A Pale View of Hills (遠い山なみの光)

Directed by Kei Ishikawa

US Premiere

Japan, United Kingdom, Poland

Perla

Directed by Alexandra Makarová

US Premiere

Austria, Slovakia

Peter Asher: Everywhere Man

Directed by Dayna Goldfine, Dan Geller

United States

Relatively Normal

Directed by Amy Wendel

World Premiere

United States

Rising Through the Fray

Directed by Courtney Montour

US Premiere

Canada

Saipan

Directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn

Ireland

Sanatorium

Directed by Gar O’Rourke

US Premiere

Ireland, Ukraine

Saving Etting Street

Directed by Dena Fisher, Amy Scott

United States

Sell Your House

Directed by Eric Foss, Brandon Pickering

World Premiere

United States

Shakti

Directed by Nani Sahra Walker

United States, Nepal

Silent Rebellion (À bras-le-corps)

Directed by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo

Switzerland, Belgium, France

Silent Struggle (En silencio. La resiliencia de Isco Alarcón)

Directed by Sara Sálamo

US Premiere

Spain

Sophia

Directed by Dhafer L’Abidine

US Premiere

Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

Space Cadet

Directed by Kid Koala

US Premiere

Canada

Stand By, Mother

Directed by Kerrilee Gore

World Premiere

United States

Steal Away

Directed by Clement Virgo

US Premiere

Canada, Belgium

Steal This Story, Please!

Directed by Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

United States

Sunshine Express

Directed by Amirali Navaee

US Premiere

Iran, Sweden

Sweet Störy

Directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish, Matt Maude

Sweden, United States

Tenor – My Name is Pati

Directed by Rebecca Tansley

World Premiere

New Zealand

The Six Billion Dollar Man

Directed by Eugene Jarecki

United States

There Are no Words

Directed by Min Sook Lee

US Premiere

Canada

This Is Not a Drill

Directed by Oren Jacoby

United States

Toitū: Visual Sovereignty

Directed by Chelsea Winstanley

US Premiere

New Zealand

Tough Old Broads

Directed by Stacey Tenenbaum

World Premiere

Canada

Tow

Directed by Stephanie Laing

United States

Tropical Paradise (Paraíso Tropical)

Directed by Abner Benaim

World Premiere

Panama

Two Ugly People

Directed by Peter Skinner

US Premiere

Australia

Untethered: A Wildly Different Normal

Directed by Aymie Majerski

World Premiere

United States

The Vanished Girl (Sauvage)

Directed by Camille Ponsin

US Premiere

France

Vanishing Goats (Élise sous emprise)

Directed by Marie Rémond

US Premiere

France

Versailles

Directed by Andrés Clariond Rangel

US Premiere

Mexico

Wasteman

Directed by Cal McMau

US Premiere

United Kingdom

What We Carry

Directed by Jessie Anthony

US Premiere

Canada

A Woman’s Work

Directed by A.R. Ephraim

World Premiere

United States

Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara)

Directed by Zacharias Kunuk

US Premiere

Canada

The Yellow Tie

Directed by Serge Ioan Celebidachi

US Premiere

Romania

You Had to Be There

Directed by Nick Davis

US Premiere

United States

2026 SBIFF SHORT FILMS

24 WORLD PREMIERES AND 29 US PREMIERES

Abel

Directed by Brian Zahm

US Premiere

United States

Agnes

Directed by Leah Vlemmiks

United Kingdom

Agnès

Directed by Nora Arnezeder

World Premiere

France

Ali’s Story

Directed by Benito Sinclair

US Premiere

United States

All Heart

Directed by Michael Govier, Will McCormack

United States

Amazeze (Fleas)

Directed by Jordy Sank

US Premiere

South Africa

Astronauta

Directed by Giorgio Giampà

US Premiere

Italy, Mexico, Guatemala, France

At Night

Directed by Pooya Afzali

Iran

The Baddest Speechwriter of All

Directed by Ben Proudfoot, Stephen Curry

United States

Barbara

Directed by Jillian Moray

World Premiere

United States

The Bear Beneath

Directed by Olivia Hille

World Premiere

United States

Behind the Mask

Directed by Catherine Andre

World Premiere

United States

Beyond Silence

Directed by Marnie Blok

Netherlands

Bimo

Directed by Oumnia Hanader

US Premiere

France

California is Burning

Directed by Bennett Curran

World Premiere

United States

Candy Bar

Directed by Nash Edgerton

Australia

Change Makers

Directed by Casey Beck

United States, Greece

Committee Animal

Directed by Robert Redfield

United States

Coyotes

Directed by Said Zagha

France, Palestine, UK, Jordan

The Crash Out

Directed by Emelie Claxton

World Premiere

United States

Daddy’s Little Meatball

Directed by Yael Grunseit

US Premiere

Australia, United States

Dark Skin Bruises Differently

Directed by Susan Wokoma

United Kingdom

The Divine Feminine

Directed by Ivana Todorovic

US Premiere

Serbia

Dongmei (冬梅)

Directed by Rubing Zhang

World Premiere

China

Earworm

Directed by Patrik Eklund

Sweden

Egg Timer

Directed by Rosie May Bird Smith

United Kingdom

Fil-Am

Directed by Ralph Torrefranca

World Premiere

United States

The Finger Wife

Directed by Taryn Stickrath-Hutt, Dan Lund

United States

Fly on the Wall (La Mosca en la Pared)

Directed by Mar Novo

Mexico

Get Her Back

Directed by Leah Winkler

US Premiere

United States

The Gift of Darkness (El Regalo de Oscuridad)

Directed by Lauren David

World Premiere

United States

The Green Truck

Directed by Nicole Noren

World Premiere

United States

Habbal et al.

Directed by Sean Paulsen, Brad Wickham

United States

Habibi

Directed by Alexey Evstigneev

US Premiere

France

The Halfway Between All This

Directed by Heather Greer, Alison Cornyn

United States

Halifax Pier

Directed by Matthew Daniel Herst

World Premiere

Canada

A Hand to Hold

Directed by Philip Clyde-Smith

United Kingdom

His House, Home

Directed by Aisling O’Regan Sargent

US Premiere

Ireland

I am Li Yangqiao (我叫李杨桥)

Directed by 林千爱Qianai Lin,马艺芊Yiqian Ma,殷熙涵Xihan Yin,陈祉彦Zhiyan Chen,龙骏骐Junqi Long,潘睿喆Ruizhe Pan

World Premiere

China

Impact

Directed by Aidan Largey

United Kingdom

Invisible Dragons

Directed by Victoria Boult

New Zealand

Jeanne & Jean Jean

Directed by Thanys Martin

US Premiere

France

Keelhaul

Directed by Edgar Cortés Campoy

US Premiere

United States

The Last Puestero (El último puestero)

Directed by Belle Casares

US Premiere

Argentina, United States

The Lifeline (La ligne de vie)

Directed by Hugo Becker

France

Like Other People

Directed by Luisa Nöllke, Leo Dzhyshyashvili

US Premiere

Germany

Listen, Then Repeat

Directed by Jasper Martin

US Premiere

Australia

Living with a Visionary

Directed by Stephen P. Neary

United States

The Lonely Life of Lint

Directed by Sarah Sklar

United States

The Long Spring

Directed by Olly Ginelli

US Premiere

United Kingdom

Mandatory Call (Toque Reglamentario)

Directed by Ana Cecilia Sandoval

US Premiere

Mexico

Mary Is Missing

Directed by Aisling Byrne

US Premiere

Ireland

Memory Experiment

Directed by Kerrilee Gore

United States

Moths

Directed by Pema Baldwin

World Premiere

United States

My Boyfriend Follows You on Instagram

Directed by Caroline Falls

World Premiere

United States

My Type

Directed by Daniela Ruah

World Premiere

United States

Night Whispers

Directed by Adrián Ramírez León

United Kingdom

Not Dead (Morto Não)

Directed by Alex Reis

Brazil

Nuns with Guns

Directed by Rhys Zemeckis

US Premiere

United States

Olive

Directed by Tom Koch

United States

The Other Roe

Directed by Wendy Eley Jackson

World Premiere

United States

Papillon

Directed by Florence Miailhe

France

Pick-Me-Up (Nattmat)

Directed by Guro Ekornholmen

US Premiere

Norway

Poster Boy

Directed by India Opzoomer

Canada, United States

Purebred

Directed by Caleb J. Roberts

Ireland, United Kingdom

Rag Dolls

Directed by Amy Adler

World Premiere

United States

Rusty

Directed by Desirae Moore

World Premiere

United States

Sauna Sickness

Directed by Malin Barr

Sweden

Sea Star

Directed by Tyler Mckenzie Evans

US Premiere

Canada

Selection (Zhu Ri)

Directed by Yaoyuan Zhang

US Premiere

China, Japan

Sense of Emergency

Directed by Madeline Down

United States

She Chose War (ВОНА ОБРАЛА ВІЙНУ)

Directed by Sarah Moshman

World Premiere

United States, Ukraine

Short Documentary About a Giant Pencil, A

Directed by Daniel Straub

World Premiere

United States

A Sisyphean Task

Directed by Gus Flind-Henry, George Malcher

United Kingdom

Skin

Directed by Urvashi Pathania

United States

Small Kindness

Directed by Matthew Palmer

World Premiere

United States

The Sound of Things Ablaze

Directed by Hayat Najm

Canada

The Spectacle

Directed by Bálint Kenyeres

US Premiere

Hungary, France

Spray Me

Directed by Christopher Chuky

US Premiere

United Kingdom

A Sunday on the Moon

Directed by Trevor Silverstein

US Premiere

United States

Sweetwater

Directed by Michael Keaton Douglas

World Premiere

United States

That Night

Directed by Hoda Sobhani

United States, Iran

The Rise and Fall of Zara Zilverstein

Directed by Brian Kazez

Argentina, France, Spain, United States

To My 14 Year Old Self

Directed by Cody Westheimer

World Premiere

United States

Tormenta

Directed by Ethan Maniquis

US Premiere

Puerto Rico, US

Two Lie Together

Directed by Adam Byrnes

World Premiere

United States

Una Notte

Directed by Rob Harris

US Premiere

United Kingdom

Under the Wave off Little Dragon

Directed by Luo Jian

US Premiere

United Kingdom

Watching Walter

Directed by Mitch Yapko

United States

When the Walls Came Down

Directed by Ondi Timoner

United States

Who Is Charlie?

Directed by Gabriel Bravo

US Premiere

Mexico

Wonders of the Wolf

Directed by Angie Ruiz

United States

Xolo

Directed by Matthew Serrano

United States

For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events, please visit sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.