Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Acquires Local Theatre for State of the Art Film Center

New SBIFF Film Center expected be open on November 15, 2024 and continue through 2025 festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) announced today that after successful negotiations with the City of Santa Barbara and its City Council, and pending final adoption of the ordinance approving the lease, SBIFF will acquire a long-term lease to 916 State Street (previously the Fiesta Five theatre) in Downtown Santa Barbara.

SBIFF plans to create a state-of-the-art Film Center, a vibrant year-round destination for film lovers and a central hub for our annual Film Festival. Following the successful revitalization of the Riviera Theatre in 2016, SBIFF is eager to build upon its mission and our future investment in the improvement of downtown Santa Barbara.

“This is one of the most important chapters in the history of SBIFF and just as we’re celebrating forty years of its existence. This is a huge leap forward for the organization while simultaneously helping with the revitalization of the downtown corridor of Santa Barbara. We’ve successfully run a year-round art house, the Riviera Theatre, for the past eight years. Now we will have five more screens to mindfully curate, and we will redefine people’s idea of what a sophisticated movie going experience is all about. At SBIFF, our mission has always extended beyond film; we’ve used cinema as an educational tool. Now, with this expanded canvas, we can inspire and educate on an even grander scale!” stated SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling.

“The renovation of the Fiesta 5 theater by SBIFF will create immediate cultural and economic benefits for the downtown. The added foot traffic will bring vitality and vibrancy to the center of State Street, the heart of our city’s business district. We’re excited to bring this infusion of culture and art to the center of our downtown,” stated Santa Barbara Mayor, Randy Rowse.

The expectation is that the SBIFF’s Film Center will be open on November 15, 2024, and remain open through the 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival from February 4-15, 2025. Following this marquee event, the Film Center will temporarily close for full renovations. Once re-opened, the entire center will provide an upgraded experience, including state-of-the-art sound and projection, new comfortable seating, high-quality concessions including local artisanal snacks, brand new heating and air conditioning, an art gallery in the lobby, and more.

This film mecca will year-round show foreign films, independent cinema, documentaries, retrospectives of classic films and important filmmakers, family programming, as well as free educational and community programming. It will serve as a place for discourse, education, and community, with a commitment to presenting diverse social, political, historical, and cultural realities.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 39 years, SBIFF has become one of the top 10 film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.