Hollywood Film Stars Celebrated in Santa Barbara
at SBIFF 2011
by Barbara Singer
 Hollywood recognizes the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
(SBIFF) is a world-class festival. This yearly happening unspools with Oscar
anticipated film stars tributed; they always praise Santa Barbara as a
resort paradise. When it’s Festival time film star honorees, esteemed and
new filmmakers and avid film lovers converge on State Street for 11 days of
flicks, fun in the sun and night time movie star dazzle. Santa Barbara is
blessed with wonderful sunny days and Festival attendees express their
excitement to be right here at the Santa Barbara International Film
Festival.
 The 2011 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, now in its 26th year,
started off with street banners galore and movie searchlights heralding this
favorite city happening. At each of the Festival screenings the opener was a
rousing trailer of marching animated Lego bricks depicting film crowds. This
was the brilliant creation of a 16-year-old Englishman animator and drama
student, Harry Bossert, and his collaboration with Santa Barbara music man,
Parry Gripp. Bossert, who jetted from England to Santa Barbara-all
expenses paid, was guest of the city and the SBIFF. While his strutting Lego
lead man sputtered, “I‘ve got a megaphone,” Festival attendees settled
in to this wild theme.
In the Santa Barbara tradition, the Historic Arlington Theatre was a
packed house for Opening Night and every tribute night. Beginning with a
warm welcome from SBIFF Board President Jeff Barbakow, he introduced
Festival Director Roger Durling and Lynda.Com. an education software firm
and the major presenting sponsor. Durling has an uncanny knack of inviting
yearly Oscar nominated actors and filmmakers long before they are in the
running for awards. They arrive to the SBIFF weeks before garnering Academy
Awards for amazing tribute evenings and are embraced by the Santa Barbara
community. Again, he was right on, 2011 marks my SBIFF number six and it
gets better and better, as recognition for this major film festival resounds
internationally. Such a diversity of independent and international films is
a film lover’s delight.
French director Gilles Paquet-Brenner charmed Santa Barbara with his
Opening Night film “Sarah’s Key,’’ starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Cinema
Vanguard Award SBIFF 2009. This compelling film centers on an American
journalist (Thomas), discovering a story of 10 year-old Sarah, who locked
her little brother in a cupboard to save him, as the French rounded up the
Jews in 1942. The Opening Night Gala was a downtown party bash at the Paseo
Nuevo courtyards, plenty of food, music and dancing.
 Off to the movies, it was pick your films from 170 choices at the Metro
Theatres and around town. Cameras flashing, Annette Bening (“The Kids Are
All Right”) arrived with her film legend husband,Warren Beatty, to receive
the American Rivera Award presented by Kevin Costner. A big Bening fan,
Roger Durling, reflected on her career (SBIFF Montecito Award 2005) with a
film retrospect and candid interview. Moving on, he does it all,
director/writer/producer Christopher Nolan (“Inception”), who was hailed for
his great cinema mind and career, received the Modern Master Award from his
award winning film’s star Leonardo Di Caprio. The film tied with “The King’s
Speech” for four Oscars.
As an avid film buff, I had seen all the Academy Award winning films; yet
here in Santa Barbara, I watched filmmakers and actors on panels and
tributes share information about their craft. I was in awe of Danny Boyle’s
film “127 Hours,” based on a true story of a mountain climber trapped under
a boulder in Utah and looked forward to James Franco’s (“127 Hours”) tribute
for Outstanding Performance of the Year. His pal, comedian Seth Rogan,
arrived to present the award. Franco, co-host of the 2011 Academy
Awards with Anne Hathaway, revealed tidbits about his life. While studying
for a PhD in English at Yale, he keeps busy studying, making films and
appearing on TV’s General Hospital and more.
  Oscar winning film “The King’s Speech,” was right on target, with the
Montecito Award tribute to Geoffrey Rush, who jetted out from Sydney,
Australia to Santa Barbara and returned the same day, was joined by cast
members Colin Firth (SBIFF Montecito Award 2010) and Helena Bonham Carter
for the Best Film Ensemble of the Year Award. Oscar -winning director
Tom Hooper was beaming as Best Actor Oscar-winner Colin Firth bestowed
Rush’s Montecito Award, from King George VI’s a presentation to his speech
teacher.
 The red carpet sizzled at the Arlington as Nicole Kidman greeted fans
before receiving the prestigious Cinema Vanguard Award for her 20-year
career. There were rave reviews for her latest film “Rabbit Hole,” which I
screened that morning, revealing how a mother copes with the loss of her
child and the offender. Kidman is an actor, who takes creative risks
with her many film choices of daring, flawed and unique characters. She
quickly noted, after viewing her film clips, “This is me and those are the
characters I play.”
 Santa Barbara is a place where you can embrace the beauty of California’s
Central Coast from the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains to the Pacific
Ocean coastline.
It’s a picturesque city with Spanish-colonial design with the familiar
icon its beautiful Santa Barbara Mission, “the Queen of the California
missions. The amazing film festival is the perfect time to visit Santa
Barbara. Visiting here, your surroundings and sensations indicate you’ve
chosen a premiere resort destination.
Between films, I head for the harbor, it’s my favorite hang out; ahh..to
dine on fish at Brophy Bros Restaurant, beside the yacht filled harbor haven
and then wander on the art walk miles and miles along the beach on Saturdays
and Sundays. Opposite the beach there are many Central Coast wine-tasting
rooms all within walking distance, the wine is fine and tastings devine. A
visit to the beautiful Santa Barbara Art Museum on State Street was a cinch,
since it was one of the film venues. It’s a joy to wander through this
Spanish style walking city and screen films; there’s plenty to do.
 Dining is a favorite Santa Barbara past time. SB Film Feast foodies were
enticed with 30 regional eateries and their specialties for a prix
fixe. What a great chance to try new places for a 2, 3 or 4 course sampling
and then catch a movie. This was my chance to savor dining with a friend at
OLIO E LIMONE, (17 W. Victoria); it’s the best of the best. Here the courses
are the stars and worthy of awards.
Celebrities filled this intimate setting, glancing through the room I
spotted actors Rob Lowe, Billy Baldwin and Christopher Lloyd savoring dining
here. Immediately we felt welcomed and from then on we experienced superb
authentic Italian cuisine, great service and casually elegant ambiance. Chef
Albert Morello adds his Sicilian touch to his dishes and his charming wife
Elaine is a warm and friendly hostess, who will encourage you to try Olio
Pizzeria next door for lunch or dinner, too. It’s certainly an upscale
favorite and just looking at the menu turns on your taste buds.
Try #1eggplant soufflé with goat cheese and warm tomato sauce,#2 pasta
sampling with pumpkin ravioli, spinach tortellini and garganelli with lamb
ragu and #3 delectable veal scaloppini sliced with artichoke hearts and
lemon sauce. Delectable desserts appeal to the taste and senses. Dining at
Olio E Lemon is an inspiration to return soon and discover more of the menu.
One of my most enjoyable evenings is the Virtuosos Award, honoring
exceptional performances in recent films, I agreed with the choices John
Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone”), Leslie Manville (“Another Year”), Jackie Weaver
(“Animal Kindom”), Hailey Steinfeld (“True Grit”) and Andrew Garfield (“The
Social Network”). These actors were outstanding and their futures look
bright.
Santa Barbara and Montecito, one of America’s most wealth communities,
have
a strong connection with the SBIFF and celebrities. Many of them do live
here including: Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, Steve Martin, John Cheese,
Kirk Douglas and now Former Vice President Al Gore. Last year Santa Barbara
local and Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges had his SBIFF special day.
During this year’s festival, the film, which impacted me, was “Face to
Face” by Director Michael Rymer, based on transcripts of alternative justice
resolutions, Winner of the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema. I
enjoyed the East West Cinema Award from Japan “Patisserie” combining pastry
and life in Tokyo. Bizet’s “Carmen” in 3D, London’s Royal Opera House
Company, was the stunning closing film in Real D, a view of the
performers up front and personal; this is a dazzling way to view opera and
theatre.
SBIFF audiences raved about the music scene documentary “Troubadours”
(Audience Choice Award) as it followed James Taylor and Carol King in the
60’s & 70’s.
In days gone by I actually saw them both perform at the Troubador Club in
West Hollywood. More awards went to local and student filmmakers, short
films, documentaries and more. All winners are listed at
www.SBIFF.org.
As always the SBIFF is a crowd pleaser. This year was a exceptional
festival.
SBIFF is a perfect reason to visit Santa Barbara.
Getting to Santa Barbara: by car from LAX via Highway 101
by train Amtrak
by air: LAX Airport or Santa Barbara Airport
For more information:
Film Festival 2012
www.SBIFF.org
(805) 963-0023
Lodging & Sightseeing –www,SantaBarbaraCA.com (805)
966-9222
Dining- Olio E Limone, 17 West Victoria St., SB (805) 899-2699
www.SBfilmfeast.com
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