The 40th Santa Barbara Film Festival Shines With Hollywood Stars

See A-listers, including Angelina Jolie, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Costner and Sebastian Stan, walk the red carpet.

Beau Behan, Patch Staff

Posted Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 5:15 pm PT|Updated Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 5:33 pm PT

Clockwise from top left: Angelina Jolie, Ralph Fiennes, Ava Duvernay and Kevin Costner (Jonathan Shensa/Patch Media/Santa Barbara International Film Festival)

SANTA BARBARA, CA — The 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is underway, featuring a slate of 33 world premieres, 74 U.S. premieres from 60 countries along with tributes, panel discussions, and free community educational and outreach programs.

“As the tragic events in our sister city of Los Angeles were unfolding, we debated about moving forward with SBIFF. Film has always been a conduit for comfort and renewal, and film festivals play a vital role in fostering a sense of connection,” said SBIFF executive director Roger Durling. “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 twelve 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 LA in partnership with Direct Relief,” According to Durling.

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This year’s honoree list includes Angelina Jolie, Ralph Fiennes, Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Monica Barbaro, Sebastian Stan, Clarence Maclin, Mikey Madison, Fernanda Torres, John Magaro, Jacques Audiard, Sean Baker, Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat and James Mangold.

Honoree Angelina Jolie receives the Maltin Modern Master Award during the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 05, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Jonathan Shensa/Patch Media)

(See red carpet photo arrivals below.)

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“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,” said SBIFF programming director Claudia Puig.

The 2025 edition opened on Feb. 4 with the U.S. premiere of “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,” French filmmaker Laura Piani’s love letter to the renowned novelist, highlighting her penchant for reason over passion. The film stars Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson and Annabelle Lengronne.

The fest also presented the U.S. premiere of Kevin Costner's epic western, "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2," on Feb. 7 with Costner in attendance along with other Hollywood luminaries, including Quentin Tarantino, Luke Wilson and Adam Corolla.

SBIFF will close on Feb. 15 with the U.S. premiere of “A Missing Part,” writer-director Guillaume Senez’ Belgian-French drama about a French taxi driver in Tokyo, who spends his days and nights searching for his long-lost daughter. The film stars Romain Duris, Judith Chemla, Mei Cirne-Masuki, Tsuyu and Shungiku Uchida

The 12-day film festival runs from Feb. 4 through Feb 15. For more information on the 40th SBIFF, visit the festival's website (sbiff.org).

Photos From The 2025 Santa Barbara Film Festival

Maltin Modern Master Award Ceremony Honoring Angelina Jolie

Honoree Angelina Jolie attends the Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony during the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 05, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Jonathan Shensa/Patch Media)

Maltin Modern Master Award Ceremony, Presenter Ava Duvernay

Presenter Ava DuVernay presents Angelina Jolie with the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 05, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Jonathan Shensa/Patch Media)

Outstanding Performer Of The Year Award Ceremony Honoring Ralph Fiennes

Honoree Ralph Fiennes attends the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award ceremony during the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 06, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Jonathan Shensa/Patch Media)