Santa Barbara Film Fest Announces 2020 Winners And 2021 Dates

SANTA BARBARA, CA — The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), dedicated to showcasing independent and international cinema, celebrated its 35th edition this year with a slate featuring 47 world premieres and 71 U.S. premieres from 50 countries along with tributes, panels and educational programs.

“For 35 years, SBIFF has been a reflection of the city that hosts this festival - inclusive - diverse - intelligent - warm and welcoming," SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said in a written release. “Celebrating cinema and all of its aspects - has become the conduit to bring together visitors from near and far, locals, old friends - and national and international artists to our beloved town.”

Richard Hobert's “The Birdcatcher's Son” took home the festival's top prize, the Audience Choice Award, while Fatos Berisha's “The Flying Circus” won the Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award for Best International Feature Film.

Over the years, SBIFF has become an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, and this year is no different. The 2020 SBIFF proudly presented tributes and honors to Renée Zellweger (American Riviera Award), Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver (Outstanding Performers of the Year Award), Laura Dern (Cinema Vanguard Award), Brad Pitt (Maltin Modern Master Award), along with the winners of the Virtuosos Award: Awkwafina, Taron Egerton, Cynthia Erivo, Beanie Feldstein, Aldis Hodge, George MacKay, Florence Pugh, and Taylor Russell.

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Bong Joon Ho, the South Korean auteur filmmaker whose 2019 film “Parasite” has garnered six Oscar nominations for directing, producing and writing, was honored with the prestigious Outstanding Director of the Year Award at 2020 SBIFF.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will return for the 36th edition Jan. 27-Feb. 6, 2021.

Photo Highlights From 2020 SBIFF

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2020 SBIFF Winners

Audience Choice Award

• Richard Hobert’s “The Birdcatcher’s Son”

Best Documentary Short Film Award:

• Henry Roosevelt’s “Sixth of June”

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film:

• Jianna Maartin’s “Sin Cielo”

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film:

• Jonathan Langager’s “Cosmic Fling”

Best Documentary Award sponsored by SEE International:

• Brian Morrison’s “Bastards’ Road”

Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film:

• Fatos Berisha’s “The Flying Circus”

Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema:

• William Nicholson’s “Hope Gap”

Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema:

• Gerardo Herrero’s “The Goya Murders”

Valhalla Award for Best Nordic Film:

• Jesper W. Nielsen’s “The Exception”

ADL Stand Up Award sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties:

• Lydia Dean Pilcher’s “Liberté: A Call to Spy”

Social Justice Award for Documentary Film:

• Katherin Hervey’s “The Prison Within”

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