In Contention

Tag: Santa Barbara International Film Festival

  • ‘King’s Speech’ cast to be honored in Santa Barbara

    Last SBIFF news before the fest.  I head up there Thursday.  The press release, in part:

    The 26th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival will honor the cast of THE KING’S SPEECH as the best motion picture ensemble of the year, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The film, which features performances by an award-winning collection of actors including Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi and Claire Bloom, has garnered critical and industry-wide acclaim, recently winning the Producer’s Guild of America’s Best Picture of the Year Award.

    The honor will be bestowed on Monday, January 31 at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre, as part of the 11-day film festival. Firth, Bonham Carter and others are expected to attend the ceremony, along with the film’s director, Tom Hooper, joining Geoffrey Rush at his Montecito Award Tribute.

    [Photo: The Weinstein Company]

  • Bening to be honored at Santa Barbara fest

    It’s not exactly a precursor, but the news we just received that Annette Bening is to receive the American Riviera Award at next year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a bullish omen for her Oscar chances.

    The prize, a career achievement award given annually to “an actor who has had a strong influence on American cinema,” has coincided with the Academy Award more often than not in the past five years: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Forest Whitaker and Sandra Bullock all scooped it up on their campaign trails, while it presaged nominations for Tommy Lee Jones and Mickey Rourke. Clearly, festival director Roger Durling and his team think Bening’s hour has come.

    Bening has a good relationship with the SBIFF: she was previously honored with their Montecito Award in 2005. The award will presented on January 28, the second day of the fest — accompanied, as is their custom, by an onstage retrospective and Q&A with the actress. As usual, Kris will be attending the festival to bring you the highlights of the occasion. Press release excerpt after the cut.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Send off with Santa Barbara’s own

    Cover of the Santa Barbara IndependentThe final day of activities at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival was an all-day tribute to local Jeff Bridges, screenings of his past work and a packed Lobero Theatre screening of “Crazy Heart” later in the day, as well as a post-screening Q&A moderated by yours truly.  The theater seats roughly 750 people and 300 were turned away at the door.  Suffice it to say, the town was ready for this one.

    The Q&A was a standard, breezy affair.  Bridges makes it easy, frankly.  It was Valentine’s Day, of course, so I couldn’t resist the sure-fire applause query: “How many Valentine’s Days have you and your wife (who was in the audience) celebrated?”  The answer, of course, is 35, and I think that, in many ways, is the greatest of accomplishments for the prolific actor.

    We talked about how Bridges came to the project, how his father instilled a passion for the business in him at an early age, what working with co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal (whose nomination was heartening to Bridges after he sat back and watched her be ignored through the season) was like, etc.  Most of what you might have read in my interview with him back in November, but the crowd ate it up.

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  • WEEKLY WRAP: Festival coverage, celebrating The Dude and more

    Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski• This week’s installments of the Oscar Guide covered the animated feature, sound mixing, lead actor, live action short and film editing categories.

    • Kris toasted the career of Jeff bridges with his list of the actor’s top 10 performances (off-site).

    • We caught up with “Red Riding: 1974” director Julian Jarrold as well as “A Prophet” helmer Jacques Audiard.

    • Elsewhere, we spotlighted the crafts of “Bright Star” in our weekly Tech Support Interview series.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Bridges, Firth, Stone and producers

    Colin Firth at the 25th annual Santa Barbara International Film FestivalThings are winding down in Santa Barbara.  Today is the last day of the fest, an all-day celebration of Jeff Bridges’s work.  Screenings of “Thunderbolt & Lightfoot,” “Starman,” “The Contender” and “Crazy Heart” are lined up.  I’ll be moderating a Q&A with the actor following the “Crazy Heart” screening at the Lobero Theatre.

    Yesterday it was the producers panel early in the afternoon, Patrick Goldstein moderating an enlightening discussion with Lawrence Bender, Mark Boal, Jon Landau, Lori McCreary, Ivan Reitman and Jonas Rivera.  It was a good cross-section of perspectives on the work of a film producer, and certain a diverse mixture of budgets, economics and creative philosophy.

    There was a moment when Landau proposed that it was a filmmaker’s responsibility to tackle gravitas and Bender took umbrage with that, positing that the real responsibility is to entertain.  Obviously it depends on the circumstance and no filmmaker should be beholden to either ideology (as Boal, always the diplomat, shrewdly noted).  But it was still funny watching Bender once again defending the frivolity of “Inglourious Basterds” in the face of loftier examinations from Landau, McCreary, etc.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Four Vanguards and a Virtuoso

    Christoph Waltz at the 25th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival“Precious” star Gabourey Sidibe couldn’t be here last weekend for the Virtuosos presentation, which recognized her, Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan, Emily Blunt and Michael Stuhlbarg, so she was in town this evening as part of the Vanguard presentation.  Stanley Tucci, meanwhile, couldn’t be here this week to accept his Vanguard prize, so he was here last week and filmed a video acceptance.

    They roll with the punches here in Santa Barbara.

    The four Vanguard award winners this year, which is the first year that saw more than one recipient, were Tucci, Christoph Waltz, Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga.  The award recognizes an actor (or actors) who has forged his/her own path, taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film.

    It fits the quartet.  These actors has found their way to this point in their careers in baby steps, Waltz’s career actually the most extensive of the four, ironically enough, regardless of his new appeal in the states.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: ‘The Cove’ honored

    (from left) Louie Psihoyos and Ric O'BarryI didn’t realize it had been fully six months since I saw “The Cove” beginning to end until I sat down to watch it again this evening at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.  The screening was in honor of the film’s receiving the Sir David Attenborough Award, given annually to a film exhibiting excellence in nature filmmaking.  Roger Durling and his staff couldn’t have tapped a more worthy recipient this year.

    The film remains a rock solid punch to the stomach, bringing tears at least two or three times throughout.  It is indeed one of the best films of 2009, but looking back at my top 10 list, I feel like it could have been higher.  There was a time when I considered it the best film of the year, period, and there are still times that I think it deserves that consideration.

    It went over like gangbusters with a crowd that definitely didn’t know what kind of an emotional experience it was in for.  One woman jumped up and hustled to the back, crying, during one pivotal sequence.  And the applause hit, just as it should, during activist Ric O’Barry’s final act of heroism seen in the film, a television strapped to his chest exposing to the International Whaling Commission the dark truths going down in a little harbor village in Japan.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Bigelow honored as Outstanding Director of the Year

    (from left) Andrew Davis, Kathryn Bigelow and Roger Durling at the 25th annual Santa Barbara International Film FestivalAs if another accolade was necessary at this point, Kathryn Bigelow was in town this evening to accept SBIFF’s Outstanding Director of the Year award.  The one-two punch of Bigelow here and James Cameron for the fest’s Modern Master honor made for, again, quite the prescient choices from festival director Roger Durling in the fall.

    The retrospective was emceed by Durling, which was endearing.  Two incredibly shy personalities on the stage at one time.  Lots of “ums” and “uhs,” but they caught their rhythm some time around the “Near Dark” discussion, which is when Durling said Bigelow first caught his attention.  He said he was fascinated by how Bigelow would take genres and deconstruct them, paint with different, darker shades.  Like melding a biker film with film noir in “The Loveless,” or attempting a western through the tools of the horror genre in “Near Dark.”

    Of course, Bigelow’s big achievement this year is no exception to this feature of her work.  It has long been a point of discussion that “The Hurt Locker” isn’t a typical war film, but a combination of suspense, action and, indeed, deep dramatic hues.  And like all of her work, an intense focus on character is at the fore.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Directors on directing, Virtuosos, ‘Provinces of Night,’ Bigelow

    Jamie Lee Curtis in Blue SteelThe fest feels incredibly easy-going this year.  More than last.  Maybe that’s because there aren’t as many films I’m interested in seeing.  After “The Secret of Kells” last week and Atom Egoyan’s “Chloe” later this week, nothing really strikes my fancy.

    Yesterday before darting back down the 101 for a Super Bowl party in LA, I caught about an hour or so of the directors panel, “Directors on Directing.”  It was an engaging discussion between Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Pete Docter, Todd Phillips and Quentin Tarantino, and absolutely packed house.  Jason Reitman couldn’t make it.

    The most interesting bit that I saw was Tarantino discussing the immersive experience of “Avatar,” how when filming “Kill Bill,” he was very interested in the experience of a movie and making the audience feel participatory in some way.  He said he thinks he failed to do that, though some sequences, namely the House of Blue Leaves sequence, were close, but when he saw “Avatar,” he said, “That’s it.  That’s the ride I was thinking about.”

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Cameron honored as Modern Master

    (from left) James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 25th annual Santa Barbara International Film FestivalEarlier today Jeffrey Wells was waxing on about how Santa Barbara ought to change up the order of things, the natural flow of a given tribute.  Well, tonight he got his wish.

    The evening’s Modern Master tribute in honor of “Avatar” director James Cameron — the festival’s highest honor — began on the wrong foot.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was set to present the award to his friend and three-time collaborator, but given the obviously tight schedule of a public official, his bit was going to land during the middle of the two-hour presentation.

    That information was somehow lost in translation to Cameron, who thought he was being told the actual award acceptance would happen at the beginning of the tribute, so rather than strolling over to moderator Leonard Maltin and sitting down for the usual kiss-kiss, he stopped at the podium and began speaking.

    Uh-oh.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: ‘Kells’ screens and the writers talk

    The Secret of KellsIt’s been a slow ramping up for me in Santa Barbara, coverage wise.  I’ve had some Wi-Fi difficulties that are being sorted and I’ve posted when I can from where I can, but a couple of notes on the last two days.

    Yesterday I took in a late afternoon screening of Tomm Moore’s “The Secret of Kells,” the film that probably served up the biggest surprise last Tuesday when it slid into the animated feature field over the populist, branch-respected “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and the less-respected “Ponyo,” which nevertheless comes from a titan of the medium.

    The film is beautiful in so many ways, offering a rich, artistic palette of shapes and color to paint a portrait of a well-circulated Irish story revolving around the non-fictional Book of Kells.  The artwork ultimately mirrors, in some way, the Insular art featured in the book, and the narrative itself, abstract as it feels at times, seems to be about the persistence of art and history.

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  • SANTA BARBARA: Bullock receives the American Riviera Award

    Sandra Bullock at the 25th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival“It” girl of the year, Sandra Bullock, was feted here in Santa Barbara last night.  The two-hour celebration of her career, a Q&A moderated by Pete Hammond with clips of her work thrown in here and there, was, to be perfectly honest, one of the better tributes I’ve seen, culminating with Forest Whitaker’s presentation of the American Riviera Award to the actress.

    The award is given to an actor or actress who has made an indelible mark on American cinema, and regardless of the prescience of festival director Roger Durling’s choice (the invitation was extended back in September, before anyone would have dreamed Bullock would be the frontrunner to win the Best Actress Oscar), it’s an undeniable pick given Bullock’s status in the industry.

    Hammond began his introduction by noting the annual Quigley poll, which charts the success of movie stars and “is usually dominated by male actors,” he said.  “Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr.,” he said.  “But guess who’s at the top?”

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  • Santa Barbara bound

    25th annual Santa Barbara International Film FestivalLater this afternoon I’m off to Santa Barbara for a week of light film-going, heavy tributes and plenty of events, not to mention some much-needed relaxation.

    This year’s 25th anniversary fest will be welcoming the likes of Mark Boal, Pete Docter, Geoffrey Fletcher, Alex Kurtzman, Nancy Meyers, Scott Neustadter, Jason Reitman, Quentin Tarantino, Kathryn Bigelow, Todd Phillips, Lawrence Bender, Jon Landau, Ivan Reitman, the list is endless.  Tributes for Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock, James Cameron and many more are also in place.  It should be a grand ole’ time.

    Meanwhile, Guy will be crossing the channel to Germany for this year’s Berlin fest next week, so there will be a variety of content on the way.  I’ll be pulling in to Santa Barbara in a few hours and try to make the opening night screening of “Flying Lessons,” but for now, the floor is yours.

  • 1/29 Oscarweb Round-up

    Christian McKay• Krista Smith sits down with dark horse Best Supporting Actor contender Christian McKay. [Little Gold Men]

    • Pete Hammond reports on the town’s goings-on, including Jason Reitman’s program of films for the New Beverly Theater. [Notes on a Season]

    • A master list of FYC screenplays available for download. [MovieCultists]

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  • Santa Barbara fest to toast Kathryn Bigelow’s career

    Kathryn BigelowThe press release, in part:

    The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is pleased to announce Kathryn Bigelow as the Outstanding Director of the Year for the 2010 Silver Anniversary edition. In what has become an annual tradition in featuring a Guest Director, SBIFF will program a retrospective of Bigelow’s films.

    On Monday, February 8, SBIFF will present “A Celebration of Kathryn Bigelow.” A director not afraid to push the envelope in the cinematic world, Kathryn Bigelow has the eye for the picture she wants to present and then does so, with an expertise that is both gracious and bold. Having studied art, she takes her vision and presents it to her audience all the while telling a tale that evokes various and intense emotions. Bigelow graduated from Columbia’s Film School and started a career, gaining experience in numerous genres – such as music videos, television and film, showing us once again the depth of her creativity and talent.

    Commented SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, “Kathryn’s custom of the first person perspective throughout her films, as seen in Point Break and Strange Days, had always made her films visceral and favorites of mine, but the culmination of this is The Hurt Locker – her crowning achievement. The fact that I’m able to honor a fellow alumnus of the Columbia Grad School is icing on the cake.”

  • Mulligan, Ronan, Sidibe and Stuhlbarg to receive Santa Barbara fest’s Virtuoso Award

    Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious ManI’ve been at a football game all day, so thank to Guy for keeping the news flowing through here.  Meanwhile, the latest SBIFF press release, in part:

    The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year’s standout performers by presenting The 2010 Chopin Virtuosos Award to Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan, Gabourey Sidibe and Michael Stuhlbarg, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Award presentation, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, will take place Sunday, February 7 at the Lobero Theatre at the 25th edition of the festival, which runs February 4-14, 2010.

    The Virtuosos Award was created to recognize a select group of actors who have distinguished themselves through performances in film this past year. Last year’s recipients for this award were Viola Davis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Melissa Leo and Michael Shannon.

    Comments Durling, “These four individuals not only gave us standout breakthrough performances, but they all carry their own individual films – and they all do it virtuosically. We salute their achievement.”

  • Julianne Moore to receive Santa Barbara fest’s Montecito Award

    Julianne Moore in A Single ManThe press release, in part:

    The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore at the 25th edition of the Festival with the Montecito Award, which runs February 4 –14, 2010, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Tribute will take place Thursday, February 11, at the historic Arlington Theatre.

    The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career, and has previously been presented to Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Naomi Watts and Annette Bening, who was the very first recipient in 2005. Julianne Moore is the quintessential actress, easily transitioning from light humor to heavy dramatic roles, expertly guiding us on each of her characters’ individual journeys.

    “This four-time Oscar nominee is a cinematic treasure,” says Roger Durling. “Her performances in Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours, Far From Heaven and many others is the stuff of legends.”

  • Sandra Bullock to be honored at Santa Barbara fest

    Sandra Bullock in The Blind SideI’m told Santa Barbara Film Festival director Roger Durling “flipped’ for Sandra Bullock’s performance in “The Blind Side.” So with that in mind, here’s the press release, in part:

    It was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling that Sandra Bullock will receive the American Riviera Award Presented By Chopin on Friday, February 5, at the 25th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs February 4-14, 2010.

    The American Riviera Award, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, was established to recognize an actor who has had a strong influence on American Cinema. Bullock will join an illustrious group of past recipients: Mickey Rourke (09), Tommy Lee Jones (08), Forrest Whitaker (07), Philip Seymour Hoffman (06), Kevin Bacon (05) and Diane Lane (04).

    “Bullock’s career-capping performance in The Blind Side encompasses everything we have loved about her since the early 90’s, from the deft physical comedy in While You Were Sleeping to the mettle of her role in the Academy Award-winning Crash,” commented Durling. “What a most perfect time to salute this enduring movie star’s lengthy career.”