The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues to prove its penchant for interesting lineups with a 2025 that includes Aontas, Fine Young Men, Magic Hour, My Dead Friend Zoe, and Spider & Jessie. Check out our full coverage after the jump. Films AONTAS (Written by Intern, Alecia Wilk) Aontas is a spring-loaded story that raises … Continue reading SBIFF 2025 Wrap Up
SBIFF 2025: Spider & Jessie
★★★★ Writer/director Daniel Kay crafts a raw, emotionally intense drama in indie gem Spider & Jessie. The subject matter alone may put off casual viewers, especially those who cannot stomach seeing children in peril. There are moral quandaries introduced as well—the fact that children are the ones who must face the dilemma makes it all … Continue reading SBIFF 2025: Spider & Jessie
SBIFF 2025: Fine Young Men
★★★★ Examining toxic masculinity through the lens of high school parties has been attempted many a time. For writer/director Alejandro Andrade, his feature Fine Young Men finds an enthralling way to newly frame that conceit through the eyes of internalized homophobia and chilling privilege. This unflinching drama plainly examines its closeted lead character in all … Continue reading SBIFF 2025: Fine Young Men
SBIFF 2024 Wrap-Up
With each passing year, we underestimate just how many magical titles we will discover at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. 2024's iteration hosts a handful of our favorite titles so far this year! Don't miss our full coverage after the jump. Films THE CONTESTANT (Written by Intern, Logan Humphrey) From director Clair Titley, The … Continue reading SBIFF 2024 Wrap-Up
SBIFF 2024: Okie
★★★ (Written by Allison Brown) A man returns to his hometown to find he has grown out of its allure and any meaningful connection with old peers. It is an age-old, overplayed story, but fortunately director Kate Cobb puts her own spin on the subject matter in debut feature, Okie. Written by her real-life husband, … Continue reading SBIFF 2024: Okie
SBIFF 2024: Suze
★★★★ Character actress Michaela Watkins (You Hurt My Feelings, Werewolves Within) finally gets her hands on a meaty lead role in exceptional drama, Suze. Starring opposite Watkins, budding heartthrob Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms, Totally Killer) plays the seemingly doofy free spirit Gage. As in the best dramedy titles, Suze follows our central characters … Continue reading SBIFF 2024: Suze
SBIFF 2024: Queen of Bones
★★ Collecting a cast of wonderful character actors including Martin Freeman, Jacob Tremblay, and Taylor Schilling, Queen of Bones instantly shot up to “must see” status. The stills gave a mysterious, alluring quality seeming to promise intrigue or, at the very least, eerie atmosphere to spare. Unfortunately, Queen of Bones lacks the skeletal structure to … Continue reading SBIFF 2024: Queen of Bones
SBIFF 2024: Shari & Lamb Chop
★★★★ I will never forget the first time my grandma introduced me to Lamb Chop’s Play Along. I suppose I was at a vital time in my childhood, somewhere between a Barney and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles obsession. Perhaps she only threw a random channel on the television hoping it would entertain me and my … Continue reading SBIFF 2024: Shari & Lamb Chop