37th Santa Barbara Film Festival lineup announced: ‘The Phantom of the Open’ to kick off fest, close with ‘Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over’

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), presented by UGG, announced today the highly anticipated lineup for the 37^th edition, which will run March 2 to 12, 2022. The festival will feature 48 world premieres and 95 U.S. premieres from 54 countries, along with tributes featuring the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.

SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling stated this morning, “It brings us an unbridled joy to share our slate for this edition of SBIFF. After two years of incertitude, it feels good to know we can continue to count on film and the festival to give us a sense of comfort and continuity.  We’re extremely proud of the offerings at the 37^th fest.”

SBIFF 2022 will start with the Opening Night Film, presented by UGG, on Wednesday, March 2 with the U.S. Premiere of The Phantom of the Open, a heartwarming British comedy starring Oscar winners Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance. The film is based on the true story of Maurice Fitcroft, who entered the 1976 British Open despite never having played a round of golf before.

Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over will close the fest on Saturday, March 12, with the iconic singer in attendance. The documentary follows Warwick as she smashed through cultural, racial and gender barriers to become the soundtrack for generations and a voice fighting for humanitarian causes. Featuring interviews with Burt Bacharach, Gladys Knight, Gloria Estefan, Snoop Dogg, Bill Clinton and many more.

Throughout the 11 day festival are tributes and awards being presented to Oscar nominees Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Will Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch, Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman, plus many more.

THE TRIBUTES

SBIFF is an important showcase for Academy Award frontrunners, many of whom have arrived as nominees and gone on to win the Oscar. The 37th SBIFF proudly celebrates some of the year’s finest work in film. All tributes will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre as well as streamed live.

• Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter – Thursday, March 3 at 8:00pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
• American Riviera Award honoring Kristen Stewart – Friday, March 4 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Anne Thompson.
• Virtuosos Award presented by UGG, honoring Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Emilia Jones (CODA), Troy Kotsur (CODA), Simon Rex (Red Rocket), and Saniyya Sidney (King Richard) – Saturday, March 5 at 8:00pm, moderated by Dave Karger.
• Variety Artisans Award sponsored by Variety – Monday, March 7 at 8:00pm. Honorees to be announced. Moderated by Jazz Tangcay.
• Montecito Award – Tuesday, March 8 at 8:00pm. Honoree to be announced.
• Outstanding Performers of the Year Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis – Sunday, March 6 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Scott Feinberg.
• Cinema Vanguard Award sponsored by Deadline honoring Benedict Cumberbatch – Wednesday, March 9 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Pete Hammond.
• Maltin Modern Master Award presented by Manitou Fund honoring Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman – Thursday, March 10 at 8:00pm. Moderated by Leonard Maltin.

THE PANELS

SBIFF has become renowned for creating smart, insightful panels that feature a who’s who in the world of filmmaking, including many Oscar contenders. Returning will be our annual Producers Panel, Writers Panel, and Women’s Panel. All Panels will be in person at the historic Arlington Theatre as well as streamed live.

Paul Thomas Anderson (LICORICE PIZZA), Kenneth Branagh (BELFAST), Jane Campion (THE POWER OF THE DOG), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (DRIVE MY CAR), and Steven Spielberg (WEST SIDE STORY) will receive the 2022 Outstanding Directors of the Year Award sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter at an in-person conversation about their respective films. Following one on one conversations, all the honorees will join in a panel discussion. The event will take place on Thursday, March 3rd at the historic Arlington Theatre, and will be moderated by Scott Feinberg.

The Writers Panel will be in-person Saturday, March 5 @ 11:00am, moderated by Anne Thompson. Panelists include:

• Kenneth Branagh (BELFAST)
• Siân Heder (CODA)
• Adam McKay (DON’T LOOK UP)
• Denis Villeneuve (DUNE)
• Zach Baylin (KING RICHARD)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal (THE LOST DAUGHTER)
• Jane Campion (THE POWER OF THE DOG)
• Eskil Vogt (THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD)

The Producers Panel will be in-person Saturday, March 5 @ 2:00pm, moderated by Glenn Whipp. Panelists include:

• Laura Berwick (BELFAST)
• Patrick Wachsberger (CODA)
• Kevin Messick (DON’T LOOK UP)
• Teruhisa Yamamoto (DRIVE MY CAR)
• Mary Parent (DUNE)
• Tim White (KING RICHARD)
• Sara Murphy (LICORICE PIZZA)
• J. Miles Dale (NIGHTMARE ALLEY)
• Tanya Seghatchian (THE POWER OF THE DOG)
• Rita Moreno (WEST SIDE STORY)

The inaugural Animation Panel will be an in-person Sunday, March 6 @ 11:00am, moderated by Roger Durling and admission is FREE. Panelists include:

• Charise Castro Smith – Co-Writer/Co-Director (ENCANTO)
• Charlotte De Le Gournerie – Producer (FLEE)
• Enrico Casarosa – Co-Writer/Director (LUCA)
• Mike Rianda – Co-Writer/Co-Director (THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES)
• Don Hall – Co-Director (RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON)

The Women’s Panel will be in-person Saturday, March 12 @ 11:00am, moderated by Madelyn Hammond. Panelists include:

• Jessica Kingdon – Director (ASCENSION)
• Lynn Harris – Producer (KING RICHARD)
• Diane Warren – Composer Oscar-Nominated Original Song “Somehow You Do”
• Amber Richards – production design (THE POWER OF THE DOG)
• Elizabeth Mirzaei – Director – Oscar-Nominated Short (THREE SONGS FOR BENAZIR)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND Q&As

• THE POWER OF THE DOG followed by a Q&A with Jane Campion – Thursday, March 3 at 2:00pm – FREE admission
• 10th Anniversary screening of SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK followed by a Q&A with DAVID O. RUSSELL – Date and Time to be announced – FREE ADMISSION
• More to be announced

GREG NAVA RETROSPECTIVE

Greg Nava will present his seminal immigration saga, EL NORTE, and SELENA, the riveting bio-pic about the famous Tejano music legend who met a tragic end at only 23, starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos. Olmos will be in attendance at the screening.

• SELENA – Tuesday, March 8 at 2:00pm – FREE admission
• EL NORTE – Wednesday, March 9 at 2:00pm – FREE admission

Nava will be present for a Q&A following each of the screenings. Edward James Olmos will also be joining for the SELENA Q&A.

Below is the list of just some of the feature films at the 2022 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org or the SBIFF app.

21 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)

1-800-HOT-NITE

Directed by Nick Richey World Premiere
United States

After Sherman

Directed by Jon Sesrie Goff World Premiere
United States

The Art of Rebellion

Directed by Libby Spears World Premiere
United States

The Bastard King

Directed by Owen Prümm World Premiere
Austria, France, Germany

Belle Vie

Directed by Marcus Mizelle World Premiere
United States

Big Crow

Directed by Kris Kaczor World Premiere
United States

Havana Libre

Directed by Corey McLean World Premiere
United States

House of Darkness

Directed by Neil LaBute World Premiere
United States

Juniper

Directed by Katherine Dudas World Premiere

United States

Loren & Rose

Directed by Russell Brown World Premiere
United States

On This Happy Note

Directed by Tamar Tal Anati World Premiere
Israel

Only in Theaters

Directed by Raphael Sbarge World Premiere
United States

Our Words Collide

Directed by Jordan W. Barrow, Matt Edwards World Premiere
United States

Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest

Directed by Nancy Svendsen World Premiere
Nepal, United States

Perejil (Parsley)

Directed by José María Cabral World Premiere
Dominican Republic

Peter Case: A Million Miles Away

Directed by Fred Parnes World Premiere
United States

A Place in the Field

Directed by Nikki Mejia World Premiere
United States

Róise and Frank (Mo ghrá buan)

Directed by Rachael Moriarty, Peter Murphy World Premiere
Ireland

Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic

Directed by Maria Demeshkina Peek

World Premiere United States

Winter Ball

Directed by Gardner Grady Hall World Premiere
United States, Dominican Republic

The Yin and Yang of Gerry Lopez

Directed by Stacy Peralta World Premiere
United States

62 U.S. PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)

Directed by Martín Barrenechea, Nicolás Branca US Premiere
Uruguay, Argentina

All My Puny Sorrows

Directed by Michael McGowan US Premiere
Canada

Apples and Oranges

Directed by Yoav Brill US Premiere
Israel

Between Two Dawns (Iki safak arasinda)

Directed by Selman Nacar US Premiere
Turkey

Cadejo Blanco

Directed by Justin Lerner US Premiere
Guatemala, USA, Mexico

The Cloud & the Man (Manikbabur megh)

Directed by Abhinandan Banerjee US Premiere
India

Daughters (Töchter)

Directed by Nana Neul US Premiere Germany, Italy

Dead Sea Guardians

Directed by Ido Glass, Yoav Kleinman US Premiere
Israel

The Den (La tana)

Directed by Beatrice Baldacci US Premiere
Italy

Drowning in Silence

Directed by Chezik Tsunoda US Premiere
United States

Dug Dug

Directed by Ritwik Pareek US Premiere
India

Eat Your Catfish

Directed by Adam Isenberg, Noah Amir Arjomand, Senem Tüzen US Premiere
Turkey, United States, Spain

Everybody Dance

Directed by Dan Watt US Premiere
United States

The Exam (Ezmûn)

Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki US Premiere
Germany, Iraq-Kurdistan, Qatar

The Game (Igra)

Directed by Ana Lazarevic US Premiere
Serbia

Geeta

Directed by Emma Macey-Storch US Premiere
India

Hard Shell, Soft Shell

Directed by Emma Benestan US Premiere

France

He’s My Brother (Skyggebarn)

Directed by Cille Hannibal, Christine Hanberg US Premiere
Denmark, Norway

The Hive (La ruche)

Directed by Christophe Hermans US Premiere
Belgium

Humanization (Förmänskligas)

Directed by Giulio Musi US Premiere
Sweden

Jesús López

Directed by Maximiliano Schonfeld US Premiere
Argentina, France

José Feliciano: Behind This Guitar

Directed by Frank Licari, Helen Murphy US Premiere
United States

Judgment Call

Directed by Saskia Diesing US Premiere
Netherlands

Juniper

Directed by Matthew J. Saville US Premiere
New Zealand

La Chica Nueva (The New Girl)

Directed by Micaela Gonzalo US Premiere
Argentina

La Hija (The Daughter)

Directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca US Premiere
Spain

The Last Bath (O último banho)

Directed by David Bonneville

US Premiere Portugal

The Last Tourist

Directed by Tyson Sadler US Premiere
Canada

Learn to Swim

Directed by Thyrone Tommy US Premiere
Canada

Little Palestine: Diary of a Siege

Directed by Abdallah Al-Khatib US Premiere
Lebanon, France, Qatar

Looking for Horses

Directed by Stefan Pavlović
US Premiere
Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France

Mi Vacío y Yo (My Emptiness and I)

Directed by Adrián Silvestre US Premiere
Spain

Miss Viborg

Directed by Marianne Blicher US Premiere
Denmark

My Name Is Gulpilil

Directed by Molly Reynolds US Premiere
Australia

Nasima (The Most Fearless)

Directed by Heather Kessinger US Premiere
United States, Bangladesh

Nitram

Directed by Justin Kurzel US Premiere
Australia

Nö

Directed by
Dietrich Brüggemann US Premiere Germany

Nowhere Special

Directed by Uberto Pasolini US Premiere
United Kingdom

Orca

Directed by Sahar Mossayebi US Premiere
Iran, Qatar

Paka (River of Blood)

Directed by Nithin Lukose US Premiere
India

Paper City

Directed by Adrian Francis US Premiere
Australia, Japan

Penelope, My Love (Pénélope mon amour)

Directed by Claire Doyon US Premiere
France

The Phantom of the Open

Directed by Craig Roberts US Premiere
United Kingdom

Private Desert (Deserto particular)

Directed by Aly Muritiba US Premiere
Brazil

Pure White (Bembeyaz)

Directed by Necip Çağhan Özdemir US Premiere
Turkey

Quake

Directed by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir US Premiere
Iceland

Quickening

Directed by Haya Waseem US Premiere
Canada

Quiet Freedom (Ein grosses versprechen)

Directed by Wendla Nölle US Premiere
Germany

The Righteous

Directed by Mark O’Brien US Premiere
Canada

The Road Dance

Directed by Richie Adams US Premiere
Scotland

Roger Corman: The Pope of Pop Cinema

Directed by Bertrand Tessier US Premiere
France

Ruby’s Choice

Directed by Michael Budd US Premiere
Australia

Scarborough

Directed by Shasha Nakhai, Rich Williamson US Premiere
Canada

Seven Dogs (Siete perros)

Directed by Rodrigo Guerrero US Premiere
Argentina

Sheroes (À la vie)

Directed by Aude Pépin US Premiere
France

Sisterhood (Sestri)

Directed by Dina Duma US Premiere

North Macedonia

Small Body (Piccolo corpo)

Directed by Laura Samani US Premiere
Italy, France, Slovenia

Sweet Disaster

Directed by Laura Lehmus US Premiere
Germany

The Therapy

Directed by Zvi Landsman US Premiere
Israel

Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash

Directed by Edwin
US Premiere
Indonesia, Singapore, Germany

Wild Roots

Directed by Hajni Kis US Premiere Hungary, Slovakia

You Resemble Me (Tu me ressembles)

Directed by Dina Amer
US Premiere
Egypt, France, United States