Film & TV

SBIFF 2025: poster, programming revealed for upcoming festival

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place from Feb. 4-15.
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‘Nosferatu’: Eggers feasts on desire in a Gothic reimagining

The film reanimates cinema’s oldest vampire, stripping away the romantic veneer of modern interpretations and brings an adaptation that is brutal, seductive and, above all, uncompromising in its vis...
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Angelina Jolie brings Maria Callas back to life in “Maria”

“Maria” marks the third installment, after “Jackie” and “Spencer,” in director Pablo Larraín’s pseudo-trilogy of historical biopics.
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“Arcane” season two tops the charts once again

The second season of Netflix's adaptation of video game "League of Legends" builds upon everything introduced in the first season.
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In Review: “A Real Pain” is a soul-searching journey through grief

Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film may not provide the clean catharsis some viewers may crave, but its raw, unrestrained exploration of pain feels strikingly authentic.
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“Conclave”: secret, suspense and gossip in the hallowed halls

Ralph Fiennes stars as Dean-Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, who is entrusted with the impossible task of wrangling the Church’s cardinals in a conclave to elect the new pope.
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“Disclaimer” is yet another example of disappointing prestige TV

Created by Alfonso Cuarón, the show stars Cate Blanchett as Catherine Ravenscroft, a documentarian whose life begins to unravel when she receives a novel which threatens to reveal her secrets.
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“We Live in Time” captures audiences with devastating story of love and life

A seamless blend of comedy and drama, the film pulls at the viewers’ heartstrings and reminds them to savor every moment of their relationships.
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In Review: Sean Baker’s “Anora” is a modern day fairytale

Set on the streets of Brooklyn and short stints in Las Vegas, Baker weaves screwball comedy and high-stakes drama into a captivating story of a young woman striving to rise above her circumstances.
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Reinventing realism and Trump in Ali Abbasi’s new controversial movie “The Apprentice”

Giving the viewer a clear “where, why and how” of Trump in his youth, the movie draws fascinating but subtle links to the billionaire and politician seen on screens today.
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Two decades in the trap: The enduring grip of “Saw” on horror culture

From a low-budget horror film to a billion-dollar franchise that redefined the genre, "Saw" revolutionized horror cinema with its moral dilemmas and infamous torture traps.
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Activism, art and apocalypse: Revisiting “Fresh Kill” with Director Shu Lea Cheang

The Carsey-Wolf Center held the last screening of Shu Lea Cheang’s debut feature film, “Fresh Kill,” accompanied by a Q&A with the director.
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“Saturday Night”: Jason Reitman’s love letter to the 1970s comedy phenomenon

The majorly anticipated biopic tells the story of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live," starring an impressive cast of Generation Z comedy darlings.
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SBIFF Riviera Theatre hosts screening, interview with director Payal Kapadia on “All We Imagine as Light”

The pre-release screening took place at Santa Barbara's Riviera Theatre, and was followed by an interview with writer and director Payal Kapadia
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Binge vs. week-by-week: How streaming release models can influence success

As the streaming war rages on, platforms have been grappling with the decision of release format — a decision that is inconsistent across providers. 
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