Santa Barbara International Film Festival announces lineup

By Daniel Okamura
South Coast Beacon

As the New Year approaches, the committee for the 19th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival must busily ready itself for its upcoming 10-day event, scheduled for just over a month away.

In a press conference Dec. 18, Artistic Director Roger Durling announced the ambitious collection of films set to screen next month — including three world premieres and five U.S. premieres — at the largest local artistic event of the year. These films, as well as several supplementary activities and “sidebar” collections promise a festival full of action Jan. 30 through Feb. 8, 2004.

The world premieres include one-woman showcase “Call Waiting,” which tells the stories of a housebound middle-aged daughter of Holocaust survivors and the actress who portrays her. “Noise” features Ally Sheedy as a woman in conflict with her upstairs neighbor. Finally, “Woman Thou Art Loosed” places evangelist T.D. Jakes’ book of healing and worship on the big screen.

The five films making their U.S. debut are “Abjad,” telling the story of a 14 year old torn between his artistic expression and his parents’ convictions, while “Boy Who Played On the Buddhas of Bamiyan” looks at an 8 yea r old who lives among the ruins of the 1,600-year-old Buddhas of Bamiyan, an Afghani tourist attraction destroyed on Taliban orders. “Dogs in the Basement” documents a couple that is trying various methods in hopes of reviving their sex life. “The Fourth World War,” shot on the frontlines of conflict on five continents where mainstream media cannot go, reveals the untold human story of global conflict. Lastly, “Lost Things” finds four teenagers in an encounter with terror on a camping trip to the beach.

In addition to the traditional lineup of films, the festival continues the Rosebud Project, a competition started last year in which 10 student filmmakers have 10 days to complete a 10-minute film. Another new tradition involving students and young people at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, Digital Days, takes place at Santa Barbara City College this year.

“I promised that I would involve the student community as much as possible,” Durling said.

Lastly, four sidebars have been announced, including “Women in Cinema,” featuring actress Mary Kay Place as the festival’s first-ever guest curator. This year also brings in a Latino Focus sidebar owing to the contributions of our Latin American community. A cult films sidebar was also announced, including “Dead Alive,” directed by this year’s Modern Master Award recipient Peter Jackson. The last sidebar focuses on movie musicals, including favorites like “Kiss Me Kate” and “My Fair Lady.”

“I have an affinity for movie musicals,” Durling said.

The 19th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival takes place at various times and locations. Look for complete schedules in January at www.sbfilmfestival.org. The festival still needs volunteers, with informational meetings scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 7 and 10 a.m. Jan. 10 at the Riviera Theatre, 2044 Alameda Padre Serra. Contact Jared Brach at 963.0023 x259 for details.