2009 SBIFF Draws 27+ Oscar Contenders!
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which begins today (January 22-February 1), is once again rolling out the red carpet for the motion picture’s elite. The Festival is pleased with this morning’s Oscar announcements—learning that at least 27 Academy Award® nominees, so far, will be making an appearance at the 24th edition of the festival, proving once again the incredible foresight that the Santa Barbara has their finger on the !
We are excited and proud that the Academy overwhelmingly agreed with our selections this year, boasted SBIFF Director Roger Durling. “The road to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is truly paved in Oscar gold!”
Leading the pack is SBIFF’s Montecito Award recipient Kate Winslet, who received a nod for Best Actress for her performance in “The Reader,” Penelope Cruz for Best Supporting Actress in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and comeback of the year, Mickey Rourke, received a Best Actor nomination for his performance in “The Wrestler.” Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), who also received a Best Actor nod, will be joined by fellow Virtuoso honorees Michael Shannon, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Revolutionary Road, Best Actress nominee Melissa Leo for Frozen River and Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress for “Doubt.”
Other festival attendees who received nominations including panelists, presenters and even a few films: SBIFF Guest Director David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Sean Penn (Milk), Josh Brolin (Milk), Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), double nominees Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) and Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Uli Edel for “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Dustin Lance Black (Milk), Eric Roth (Benjamin Button), Jim Morris (Wall-E), Dan Jinks (Milk), Christian Colson (Slumdog Millionaire), Jacqueline West (Costume Design, Benjamin Button), Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, Slumdog Millionaire, Best Documentary Short “The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306”.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, set to run January 22 through February 1, 2009, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching local culture and raising consciousness of film as an art form. SBIFF presents quality American and world independent films, Latin American and Asian sidebars as well as documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara, a premier tourist destination. The SBIFF is also committed to education through its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Field Trip to the Movies, and educational seminars. With a projected audience of over 70,000 viewing more than 200 films over its eleven-day run, the SBIFF attracts an affluent local and national consumer base, while maintaining strong ties with the entertainment industry in nearby Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.sbfilmfestival.org
