Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Full 2025 Program, Will Partner With Direct Relief To Raise Funds For L.A. Wildfires

Pete Hammond

17 January 2025 at 2:30 pm·14-min read

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has revealed its entire program for its upcoming 40th edition, which includes 32 world premieres and 74 U.S. premieres from 60 countries. The fest will open February 4, 2025 with the U.S. premiere of Jane Austin Wrecked My Life and will close February 15 with the U.S. premiere of A Missing Part.

Considering the ongoing tragedy of the Los Angeles wildfires, this year’s festival is also being dedicated to L.A. to raise funds in partnership with Direct Relief.

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“As the tragic events in our sister city of Los Angeles were unfolding, we debated about moving forward with SBIFF,” said the festival’s executive director Roger Durling. “Film has always been a conduit for comfort and renewal, and film festivals play a vital role in fostering a sense of connection. Festivals build community, and create an outlet for the process of feelings. In light of this, it became clear that we must move forward with our 40th edition. The 12 days of the festival will be dedicated to the City of Angels, and we will put in place an initiative during it to raise funds for L.A. in partnership with Direct Relief.

Added Claudia Puig, SBIFF’s programming director: “This year’s lineup, featuring films from Peru to Kazakhstan, showcases a diverse range of globally relevant themes, from thought-provoking explorations of social justice to pressing environmental challenges. We are confident that these films — a record number of which were made by women — will be loved by audiences as much as they are by our programming team.”

The fest will host a number of tributes in person at the Arlington Theatre:

Maltin Modern Master Award honoring Angelina Jolie – Wednesday, February 5 at 8 p.m. Moderated by Leonard Maltin
Outstanding Performer of the Year Award honoring Ralph Fiennes – Thursday, February 6 at p.m. Moderated by Scott Feinberg
American Riviera Award presented by Lexus honoring Zoe Saldaña – Friday, February 7 at 8 p.m. Moderated by Anne Thompson
Variety Artisans Award – Saturday, February 8 at 8 p.m. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay
Virtuosos Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Kieran Culkin [A Real Pain], Harris Dickinson [Babygirl], Karla Sofía Gascón [Emilia Pérez], Selena Gomez [Emilia Pérez], Ariana Grande [Wicked], Clarence Maclin [Sing Sing], Mikey Madison [Amora], and John Magaro [September 5] – Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. Moderated by Dave Karger
Arlington Artist of the Year Award presented by FIJI Water honoring Timothée Chalamet – Tuesday, February 11 at 8 p.m. Moderator to be announced
Cinema Vanguard Award honoring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce – Thursday, February 13 at 8 p.m. Moderated by Pete Hammond
Montecito Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Colman Domingo – Friday, February 14 at 8 p.m. Moderated by Roger Durling
Outstanding Directors of the Year Award – Date and Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg

Here is the list of feature and short films at the 2025 SBIFF, followed by the fest’s tributes and panels:

FEATURE FILMS

Across the Sea (La mer au loin)
Directed by Saïd Hamich Benlarbi
US Premiere
France, Morocco, Belgium

Ai Weiwei’s Turandot
Directed by Maxim Derevianko
World Premiere
Italy

All God’s Children
Directed by Ondi Timoner
United States

Among Neighbors
Directed by Yoav Potash
US Premiere
United States

Aontas
Directed by Damian McCann
US Premiere
Ireland

An Arrangement
Directed by Noree Victoria
World Premiere
United States

At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking (Ko će pokucati na vrata mog doma)
Directed by Maja Novaković
US Premiere
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Balomanía
Directed by Sissel Morell Dargis
Denmark, Spain

Bauryna Salu
Directed by Askhat Kuchinchirekov
US Premiere
Kazakhstan

Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue
Directed by Jill Campbell
United States

Beyond the Horizon
Directed by Mark Gillard
United States

The Bitter Pill
Directed by Clay Tweel
United States

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story
Directed by Sinéad O’Shea
Ireland, United Kingdom

Bustin’ Down the Door
Directed by Jeremy Gosch
United States

Can I Get a Witness?
Directed by Ann Marie Fleming
US Premiere
Canada

Carissa
Directed by Jason Jacobs, Devon Delmar
US Premiere
South Africa

Coastal
Directed by Daryl Hannah
United States

Color Book
Directed by David Fortune
United States

Coup 53
Directed by Taghi Amirani
United Kingdom, United States, Iran

Crocodile Tears (Air mata buaya)
Directed by Tumpal Tampubolon
US Premiere
Indonesia

Democracy Under Siege
Directed by Laura Nix
US Premiere
Belgium, Luxembourg, USA

Desert Angel
Directed by Vincent DeLuca
United States

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight
Directed by Embeth Davidtz
South Africa

Drowning Dry (Sesės)
Directed by Laurynas Bareiša
Lithuania

Enchanted Matter: The Art of Robert Powell
Directed by Tom Piozet
World Premiere
United States

Fine Young Men (Hombres íntegros)
Directed by Alejandro Andrade Pease
US Premiere
Mexico, Spain, France

Following Harry
Directed by Susanne Rostock
United States

Froggie
Directed by Luke Morgan
US Premiere
Ireland

Glimmers (Los destellos)
Directed by Pilar Palomero
US Premiere
Spain

The Good Teacher (Pas de vagues)
Directed by Teddy Lussi-Modeste
US Premiere
France

Hakkı
Directed by Hikmet Kerem Özcan
US Premiere
Turkey

Her Name Was Moviola
Directed by Howard Berry
United Kingdom

Home Court
Directed by Erica Tanamachi
United States

Honeydew
Directed by Michael Petrolini, Marco Bergonzi
US Premiere
Italy, Sweden

Housewife of the Year
Directed by Ciarán Cassidy
Ireland

How Kids Roll
Directed by Loris Lai
US Premiere
Italy

I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Directed by J. Davis
United States

I’m Your Venus
Directed by Kimberly Reed
United States

In the Red
Directed by Mimi Chakarova
World Premiere
United States

Incandescence
Directed by Nova Ami, Velcrow Ripper
US Premiere
Canada

I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol
Directed by Nick Mead, Andre Relis
World Premiere
United States

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (Jane Austen a gâché ma vie)
Directed by Laura Piani
US Premiere
France

The Knife
Directed by Nnamdi Asomugha
United States

Last Swim
Directed by Sasha Nathwani
US Premiere
United Kingdom

Lilly
Directed by Rachel Feldman
United States

Linda
Directed by Mariana Wainstein
US Premiere
Argentina, Spain

Lucky Star
Directed by Gillian McKercher
US Premiere
Canada

Magic Hour
Directed by Jacqueline Christy
World Premiere
United States

Marching in the Dark (अंधारातल्या मशाली)
Directed by Kinshuk Surjan
US Premiere
Belgium, Netherlands, India

Maya and the Wave
Directed by Stephanie Johnes
United States

Maydegol
Directed by Sarvnaz Alambeigi
US Premiere
Iran,Germany,France

Men of War
Directed by Billy Corben, Jen Gatien
United States

Michel Gondry: Do It Yourself
Directed by François Nemeta
US Premiere
France

A Missing Part (Une part manquante)
Directed by Guillaume Senez
US Premiere
Belgium, France

Mistress Dispeller
Directed by Elizabeth Lo
China, United States

Mistura
Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil
Peru

Mollie’s Pack
Directed by Thomas Winston
United States

Mothers of Chibok
Directed by Joel ‘Kachi Benson
United States, Nigeria

Mr. K
Directed by Tallulah Hazekamp Schwab
US Premiere
Netherlands, Norway, Belgium

Mrs. Robinson
Directed by Aoife Kelleher
US Premiere
Ireland

My Dead Friend Zoe
Directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
United States

My Eternal Summer (Min evige sommer)
Directed by Sylvia Le Fanu
US Premiere
Denmark

My Father’s Daughter (Biru Unjárga)
Directed by Egil Pedersen
US Premiere
Norway, Sweden, Finland

My Stolen Planet (Sayyareye dozdide shodeye man)
Directed by Farahnaz Sharifi
Germany, Iran

O Horizon
Directed by Madeleine Rotzler
World Premiere
United States

Olivia & the Clouds (Olivia & las nubes)
Directed by Tomás Pichardo Espaillat
US Premiere
Dominican Republic

The Origin of the World (L’Origine del mondo)
Directed by Rossella Inglese
US Premiere
Italy

Our Lovely Pig Slaughter (Mord)
Directed by Adam Martinec
US Premiere
Czech Republic

Out of Plain Sight
Directed by Daniel Straub, Rosanna Xia
United States

Paddle Out
Directed by Sebi Lee, Melissa Pappageorgas
World Premiere
United States

Park Avenue
Directed by Gaby Dellal
US Premiere
United States

Parrot Kindergarten
Directed by Amy Herdy
World Premiere
United States

The Penguin Lessons
Directed by Peter Cattaneo
Spain, United Kingdom

Quasi a Casa
Directed by Carolina Pavone
US Premiere
Italy

The Quiet Ones (De lydløse)
Directed by Frederik Louis Hviid
Denmark

The Righteous (Todos somos justos)
Directed by Carlos Leiva Barahona
US Premiere
Chile

Roads of Fire
Directed by Nathaniel Lezra
World Premiere
United States

Rocco & Sjuul
Directed by Anna van der Heide
US Premiere
Netherlands

Row of Life
Directed by Soraya Simi
World Premiere
United States

Seeking a Haven for Mr. Rambo (Al bahs an manfaz i khoroug al sayed Rambo)
Directed by Khaled Mansour
US Premiere
Egypt

Separated
Directed by Errol Morris
United States, Mexico

The Shepherd and the Bear
Directed by Max Keegan
United States, United Kingdom, France

Shepherds (Bergers)
Directed by Sophie Deraspe
US Premiere
Canada, France

Shook
Directed by Amar Wala
US Premiere
Canada

Shot the Voice of Freedom
Directed by Zainab Entezar
US Premiere
Afghanistan

Skin in Spring (La piel en primavera)
Directed by Yennifer Uribe Alzate
US Premiere
Colombia

Soda
Directed by Erez Tadmor
US Premiere
Israel

The Song Cycle
Directed by Nick Kelly
US Premiere
Ireland

Sons (Vogter)
Directed by Gustav Möller
Denmark

Space Cowboy
Directed by Marah Strauch, Bryce Leavitt
United States

Speak.
Directed by Jennifer Tiexiera
United States

Spider & Jessie
Directed by Dan Kay
World Premiere
United States

Spring of the Vanishing
Directed by Andrew Glazer
World Premiere
United States

The Summer Book
Directed by Charlie McDowell
United States, Finland

The Swedish Torpedo (Den svenska torpeden)
Directed by Frida Kempff
US Premiere
Sweden

They Will Be Dust (Polvo serán)
Directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet
US Premiere
Spain, Italy, Switzerland

Third Act
Directed by
Tadashi Nakamura
United States

Tiny Lights (Svetylka)
Directed by Beata Parkanová
US Premiere
Czech Republic, Slovakia

To Close Your Eyes and See Fire
Directed by Nicola von Leffern, Jakob Carl Sauer
US Premiere
Austria

To Kill a Mongolian Horse
Directed by Xiaoxuan Jiang
Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United States

To Kill a Wolf
Directed by Kelsey Taylor
United States

Top 10 Must (Topp 10 Möst)
Directed by Ólöf Birna Torfadóttir
US Premiere
Iceland

Trifole
Directed by Gabriele Fabbro
Italy, South Africa, USA

Triumph
Directed by Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
US Premiere
Bulgaria, Greece

Undercover (La infiltrada)
Directed by Arantxa Echevarria
US Premiere
Spain

Village Keeper
Directed by Karen Chapman
US Premiere
Canada

The Village Next to Paradise
Directed by Mo Harawe
Somalia, Austria, France, Germany

Viva Verdi!
Directed by Yvonne Russo
United States

Walk with Me
Directed by Heidi Levitt
United States

Waves (Vlny)
Directed by Jiří Mádl
Czech Republic

Way Home (Vejen hjem)
Directed by Charlotte Sieling
Denmark

When We Were Sisters
Directed by Lisa Brühlmann
US Premiere
Switzerland, Greece

The White House Effect
Directed by Bonni Cohen
United States

Wild Gleaming Space (Luminoso espacio salvaje)
Directed by Mauro Colombo
US Premiere
Panama, Spain

The Wolves Always Come at Night (Чоно үүр шөнөөр ирдэг)
Directed by Gabrielle Brady
US Premiere
Mongolia, Australia, Germany

Yen and Ai-Lee (Xiao Yan Yu Wu Ai-Lee)
Directed by Tom Shu-yu Lin
US Premiere
Taiwan

SHORT FILMS

26,000 Days
Directed by Henry Behel
United States

4th Dementia
Directed by Ian Wexler
United States

Adiós
Directed by José Prats
Spain

All Things Metal
Directed by Motoki Otsuka
United States

Azi
Directed by Montana Mann
United States

Balloon
Directed by Law Chen
World Premiere
United States

Battle of the Blues
Directed by Adam Ernster
World Premiere
United States

Beautiful Men
Directed by Nicolas Keppens
Belgium, France, Netherlands

Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
Directed by Kyle Provencio Reingold
United States

A Bird Flew (Un pájaro voló)
Directed by Leinad Pájaro De la Hoz
US Premiere
Colombia, Cuba

Bitter Chocolate (Shokolate Talkh)
Directed by Sahar Sotoodeh
US Premiere
Iran, Germany

Bug Diner
Directed by Phoebe Jane Hart
United States

The Devil Is Busy
Directed by Christalyn Hampton, Geeta Gandbhir
United States

Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?
Directed by Max Karpman
United States

The Flamingo
Directed by Corina Mazzi
World Premiere
United States

Gender Reveal
Directed by Mo Matton
Canada

George
Directed by Aaron Craig, Alex Craig
World Premiere
United States

The Green Buffalo
Directed by Joel Caldwell
World Premiere
United States

Hello Stranger
Directed by Amélie Hardy
Canada

Hold Up
Directed by Ori Guendelman
United States

Hymn of the Plague (Gimn Chume)
Directed by Ataka51
US Premiere
Russia, Germany

I Accidentally Stepped on a Flower (Aksidentalisht Shkela Një Lule)
Directed by Eneos Çarka, Stivi Imami
US Premiere
Albania

Icebreakers
Directed by Jocelyn Glatzer, Marlo Poras
World Premiere
United States

Imogene
Directed by Katie Blair
United States

Is Now a Good Time
Directed by Jim Cummings
United States

Keep the Funk
Directed by Gareth Kelly
World Premiere
United States

The Kelp We Breathe
Directed by Jack Phillips, Natalie Aymond, Tatum Davis, Taylor Ortiz
World Premiere
United States

L’avance
Directed by Djiby Kebe
France

Last Hope
Directed by Lena Kaminsky
World Premiere
United States

The Last Observers
Directed by Maja K Mikkelsen
United States

Leonie, Skeet & the Piglets (Leonie, Skeet & de biggen)
Directed by Jip Heijenga
Belgium

Little Monsters (Les Petits Monstres)
Directed by Pablo Léridon
US Premiere
France

London, KY
Directed by Cody Duncum
World Premiere
United States

Mango
Directed by Joan Iyiola
World Premiere
United Kingdom, France

Massacre of the Innocents
Directed by SaraKlara Hellström
US Premiere
Sweden

ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ (Meet Me at the Creek)
Directed by Loren Waters
United States

Mother’s Day
Directed by Kathryn Boyd Brolin
United States

Mr. Floof
Directed by Claire Taback Sliney
United States

My Memory Walls (Mes murs-mémoire)
Directed by Axel Robin
World Premiere
Canada

The New Yorker Theater: The Talbots’ Legacy
Directed by Sergio Maza
World Premiere
United States, Argentina

Not Just Water
Directed by Tess McCormick
World Premiere
United States

O
Directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson
Iceland

On a Sunday at Eleven
Directed by Alicia K. Harris
Canada

On Weary Wings Go By (Linnud läinud)
Directed by Anu-Laura Tuttelberg
Estonia, Lithuania

Our Own Shadow (Nuestra sombra)
Directed by Agustina Sánchez Gavier
US Premiere
Germany, Argentina

perfectly a strangeness
Directed by Alison McAlpine
Canada

The Poison Cat
Directed by Tian Guan
US Premiere
China

quwa’
Directed by Jonathan Coronado, Ryan Grant, Jade Ipina, Catherine Scanlon
World Premiere
United States

Ragamuffin
Directed by Kaitlyn Mikayla
United States

Road Kill
Directed by Ryan Farhoudi
World Premiere
United States

Shadows
Directed by Rand Beiruty
US Premiere
France, Jordan

Shutter Bird
Directed by Réi
World Premiere
United States

Sirius
Directed by Jean-Bastien Niyigaruye
US Premiere
Canada

Snow Day!
Directed by Kiara Lin
World Premiere
United States

A Swim Lesson
Directed by Rashida Jones, Will McCormack
United States

Terminally Ill
Directed by Christopher J. Cole
United States

The Three Sisters
Directed by Timur Kognov
US Premiere
Cyprus

Tornado
Directed by Jack Kendirck
United States

Travelling Home
Directed by Juliet Klottrup
US Premiere
United Kingdom

The Truck
Directed by Elizabeth Rao
United States

Twain
Directed by Pip
US Premiere
United Kingdom

Washed Away (Naufrage)
Directed by Aucéane Roux
US Premiere
Canada

WAShhh
Directed by Mickey Lai
US Premiere
Malaysia, Ireland

Weeds (Plevel)
Directed by Pola Kazak
US Premiere
Czech Republic

Where Time Stood Still (Sadac Dro Idga)
Directed by Nino Benashvili
US Premiere
Georgia

Who Loves The Sun
Directed by Arshia Shakiba
US Premiere
Canada

The Wolf
Directed by Theodore Ushev
US Premiere
Canada

The Wool Aliens
Directed by Julia Parks
United Kingdom

Here are the jury members:

Estrella Araiza (Guadalajara International Film Festival Managing Director), Max Barbakow (Filmmaker, Palm Springs), Moses Bwayo (Filmmaker, Bobi’s Wine: The People’s President), Andres Castillo (Miami International Film Festival Managing Director and Senior Programmer), Jeff Christian (Filmmaker, Echo Chamber), Jimmy Jean-Louis (Actor), Margaret Lazarus (Director, Defending Our Lives), Jena Malone (Actor), Gregory Nava (Director) and Shawn Patterson (Composer).

SBIFF is also presenting Animation, Producers, Writers, Women’s and International panels, with the panelists to be announced:

Animation Panel
Friday, February 7 at 5:30 pm, SBIFF Film Center
Moderated by Roger Durling

Writers Panel
Saturday, February 8 at 11 am, Arlington Theatre
Moderated by Anne Thompson

International Directors Panel
Sunday, February 9 at 1 am, Arlington Theatre
Moderated by Roger Durling

Women’s Panel
Saturday, February 15 at 11 am, Arlington Theatre
Moderated by Madelyn Hammond

Producers Panel
Date and time TBA, Arlington Theatre
Moderated by Nicole Sperling

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