Santa Barbara Film Fest Honors 2023 Oscar Nominees

SANTA BARBARA, CA — The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) celebrated its 38th edition this year with a slate featuring 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres from 43 countries along with panels, tributes and educational programs.

Christine Yoo’s “26.2 to Life” took home the festival’s top prize, the Audience Choice Award, while Kei Ishikawa’s “A Man (Aru Otoko)” won the Best International Feature Film Award.

Other top juried honors included The Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema for Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” and the Best Documentary Award for Kim Hopkins’ “A Bunch of Amateurs.” (See the full list of juried winners below.)

Famous for its award galas, the SBIFF proudly presented the 2023 tributes and honors to Academy Award frontrunners Cate Blanchett (Outstanding Performer of the Year Award), Brendan Fraser (American Riviera Award), Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (Cinema Vanguard Award), Jamie Lee Curtis (Maltin Modern Master Award), Angela Bassett (Montecito Award), along with the winners of the Vituosos Award: Austin Butler, Kerry Condon, Danielle Deadwyler, Nina Hoss, Stephanie Hsu, Jeremy Pope, Ke Huy Quan and Jeremy Strong. (See red carpet photo arrivals below.)

Dedicated to showcasing independent and international cinema, the festival opened Feb. 8 with the world premiere of Michelle Danner’s “Miranda’s Victim,” Michelle Danner’s period piece about the real-life story of rape survivor Patricia “Trish” Weir.

Related:

• Academy Awards 2023: Complete List Of Oscar Nominees
• Golden Globes 2023: Best Moments In Photos

Ten days later, the fest closed with the U.S. premiere of “I Like Movies,” Levack’s comedy-drama about the adventures of a socially-inept teen cinephile.

In conclusion, SBIFF’s programming director Claudia Puig summed up this year’s film fest: “Cinema is one of the most powerful vehicles for empathy, providing a window of understanding to all who seek to look through it.”

“We thank the filmmakers in attendance and our avid Santa Barbara audience for so heartily embracing the festival experience,” Puig added.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will return for the 39th edition next year.

Photo Highlights From The 2023 SBIFF

Cate Blanchett is honored at the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on February 10, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Rita Moreno attends the Cinema Vanguard Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 16, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Colin Farrell is honored at the Cinema Vanguard Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 16, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Brendan Gleeson is honored at the Cinema Vanguard Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 16, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Sarah Michelle Gellar attends the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival: American Riviera Award ceremony at The Arlington Theatre on February 14, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Brendan Fraser is honored at the American Riviera Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 14, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Angela Bassett is honored at the Montecito Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on February 09, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Stephanie Hsu speaks onstage at the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Chris Pratt attends the Cinema Vanguard Award tribute during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 16, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Jeremy Pope speaks onstage at the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Jamie Lee Curtis is honored at the Maltin Modern Master Award tribute during the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on February 11, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Austin Butler attends the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Danielle Deadwyler attends the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Abigail Breslin attends the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Opening Night: World Premiere Of "Miranda's Victim" at The Arlington Theatre on February 08, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Ke Huy Quan attends the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Emily VanCamp attends the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival opening night world premiere of "Miranda's Victim" at The Arlington Theatre on February 08, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Nina Hoss attends the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Josh Bowman attends the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival opening night world premiere of "Miranda's Victim" at The Arlington Theatre on February 08, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Maricelis Galanes attends the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival opening night world premiere of "Miranda's Victim" at The Arlington Theatre on February 08, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Kerry Condon atends the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

Honoree Jeremy Strong attends at the Virtuosos Award Ceremony during the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on February 15, 2023 in Santa Barbara, California.

2023 SBIFF Winners

Audience Choice Award

• “26.2 To Life” Directed by Christine Yoo

Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema

• “I Like Movies” Directed by Chandler Levack

Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film

• “A Man (ARU OTOKO)” Directed by Kei Ishikawa

Best Documentary Award

• “A Bunch of Amateurs” Directed by Kim Hopkins

Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema

• “Manuela” Directed by Clara Cullen

Best Middle Eastern/Israeli Film Award

• “The Taste of Apples is Red (TA’AM AL TUFAH, AHMAR)” Directed by Ehab Tarabieh

Best Nordic Film Award

• “Summerlight and then Comes the Night (SUMARLJÓS OG SVO KEMUR NÓTTIN)” Directed by Elfar Aðalsteins

Social Justice Award for Documentary Film

• “Black Mambas” Directed by Lena Karbe

ADL Stand Up Award

• “The Quiet Girl (AN CAILÍN CIÚIN)” Directed by Colm Bairéad

Best Documentary Short Film Award:

• “Nowhere to Go But Everywhere (行き止まりのむこう側)” Directed by Masako Tsumura, Erik Shirai

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film

• “The Moisture (RUTUBET)” Directed by Turan Haste

Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film

• “Epicenter” (소문의 진원지) Directed by Heeyoon Hahm