SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The winners of the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) have been announced, featuring acclaimed films such as “TransMexico,” “Edge of Everything,” and “Andragogy.” Recognized for their excellence in independent and international cinema, these films were selected by a panel of esteemed jury members.
The SBIFF has become a prominent film festival in the United States, drawing in approximately 100,000 attendees over its packed week of screenings, with more than 200 films showcased. The festival’s mission is to discover and showcase the best in independent and international cinema.
The winners were chosen by a panel of jurors that included Lesley Chilcott, Alex Keledjian, Chris Landon, Lael Loewenstein, Jacqueline Lyanga, David Magdael, Gail Mancuso, Greg Nava, Pituka Ortega Heilbron, Carla Renata, Gil Robertson, Ondi Timoner, Clay Tweel, and Ali Wolfe. The diverse range of films selected tells stories from all corners of the globe, spanning from the magic of movie palaces in the Atacama Desert to the stunning ice caves of Antarctica, and exploring the social hazards of cancel culture in Indonesia.
Claudia Puig, the programming director of SBIFF, expressed gratitude to the jurors for their discerning choices. Puig acknowledged the winning films for their captivating narratives and originality. The festival organizers are thrilled to congratulate the winners of this year’s jury awards.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, held from February 7-17, was filled with official events including film screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, industry panels, and celebrity tributes. The announcement of the winners took place at a ceremony held at the El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara.
The complete list of winners includes “TransMexico” directed by Claudia Sanchez, which received the Audience Choice Award, and “Edge of Everything” directed by Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman, which won the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema. Other notable winners include “Andragogy” directed by Wregas Bhanuteja, awarded the Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award for Best International Feature Film, and “Diving Into the Darkness” directed by Nays Baghai, which took home the Best Documentary Award.
Additionally, the festival recognized several other outstanding films, including “The Blue Star” (La Estrella Azul) directed by Javier Macipe with the Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema, and “Before It Ends” (Når Befrielsen Kommer) directed by Anders Walter, which received the Best Nordic Film Award.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival also honored thought-provoking documentaries with the Social Justice Award for Documentary Film, which went to “The Last Daughter” directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt. The ASC Award for Cinematography was presented to “The Movie Teller” directed by Lone Scherfig. Furthermore, “The Last Daughter” directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt was given the ADL Stand Up Award, and “A Man’s Man” directed by Myles Desenberg won the Best Documentary Short Film Award.
In the realm of short films, “Area Boy” directed by Iggy London was recognized with the Bruce Corwin Award for Best Live-Action Short Film, and “On the 8th Day” (Au 8ème Jour) directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, and Théo Duhautois received the Bruce Corwin Award for Best Animated Short Film.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues to serve as a platform for outstanding cinema, celebrating the artistry and creativity of filmmakers from around the world.