Artsweek

March 30, 2025

Attend the tale of Shrunken Heads, UCSB’s musical theater troupe

By Sandra Vovk

Founded in the 2000s, the entirely student-run organization has taken charge of the contemporary musical theater scene on campus.

March 6, 2025

Twin flames: Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson in concert

By Kasey Wang

Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson not only proved their undeniable technical prowess at the Granada Theatre, but also gave the crowd a uniquely unforgettable display of passionate musicality.

February 21, 2025

In Review: Brady Corbet’s ‘The Brutalist’

By Jake Turner

“The Brutalist” may not quite reach the same heights as other great American epics, but it is a fantastic work of art worth your time and thought.

February 21, 2025

RaMell Ross redefines tragedy in ‘Nickel Boys’

By Kasey Wang

Based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, the film is a historical drama inspired by the Dozier School for Boys, a now-closed reform school.

February 21, 2025

‘The Brutalist’: cracks in the foundation of the American dream

By Conor Kelly

The film is a grand, ambitious piece that examines the way an immigrant is chewed up by America.

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: closing night shines with ‘A Missing Part’

By Nathan Kwon

As the final screening of the 11-day event, the closing night screening served as the perfect capstone to a festival that once again recognized cinema excellence in the company of filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike.

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Colman Domingo receives Montecito Award

By Anushka Ghosh Dastidar

Domingo brought an abundance of love with him as he was honored with the Montecito Award for great contribution to film on Valentine’s Day. Oprah Winfrey presented him with the award.

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce receive Cinema Vanguard Award

By Anushka Ghosh Dastidar

The two actors took part in a career retrospective with Deadline’s Pete Hammond, prior to being honored with the revered Cinema Vanguard Award for breaking new ground in film.

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Zoe Saldaña honored with American Riviera Award

By Jack Dindia, Conor Kelly

The American Riviera Award is given for outstanding achievement in American film. Saldaña received the award for her role in “Emilia Pérez.” 

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Timothée Chalamet receives Arlington Artist of the Year Award

By Lauren Chiou

The sold-out ceremony took place at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre on Feb. 11, and featured a career retrospective of Chalamet’s work, along with a discussion moderated by actor Josh Brolin.

February 20, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Outstanding Directors of the Year Award celebrates five ‘radical, daring, original’ films

By Lucy Dixon

This year's honorees include Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat, Jacques Audiard, James Mangold and Sean Baker. All five directors are nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.

February 19, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Producers Panel gathers Academy Award-nominated producers in discussion

By Sandra Vovk

The event featured Cale Boyter (“Dune: Part Two”), Alex Coco (“Anora”), Coralie Fargeat (“The Substance”), Alex Heineman (“A Complete Unknown”) and Brian Young (“The Brutalist”). 

February 19, 2025

SBIFF 2025: International Directors Panel opens audience eyes to world cinema

By Lea Vazquez

All directors featured within the panel are nominated for Best International Feature Film for the 2025 Academy Awards.

February 19, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Demi Moore talks “The Substance”

By Kirill Vorobyev

Following a screening of the film at Arlington Theatre, lead actress Demi Moore participated in a moderated discussion about the film.

February 19, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Variety Artisans Award celebrates the artists behind 2024’s biggest films

By Kyra Schimpf

Featured films included “The Brutalist,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Conclave,” “Nickel Boys,” “A Complete Unknown,” “The Substance,” “Wicked,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" and “The Wild Robo...

February 19, 2025

SBIFF 2025: Academy Award-nominated screenwriters discuss films at Writers Panel

By Amitha Bhat

Moderated by Anne Thompson, Editor-at-Large of IndieWire, the panel featured writers Clint Bentley, Jesse Eisenberg, Joslyn Barnes, Mona Fastvold, Peter Straughan and Tim Fehlbaum.