The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is excited to announce 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.
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.
We anticipate 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 much more. This new investment exemplifies SBIFF’s identity as an important leader in the worldwide cinematic landscape and a commitment to the well-being of the city of Santa Barbara.
For those unfamiliar with the quality that SBIFF is dedicated to providing, you are in luck, as you can visit the SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre, which represents a sneak peek into our vision for the SBIFF Film Center. Join us at the Riviera! For more information, visit sbiffriviera.com, and we hope to see you at the Film Center in November.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
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.
SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community throughout many free educational programs and events. SBIFF’s programs support over 18,000 kids, students and families in our local community by introducing film as an art form to young children with programs like AppleBox and Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies; teaching film analysis to highschool and college students with programs like Rosebud and the Film Studies Program; and teaching the craft of screenwriting and filmmaking with Film Camp and 10-10-10 Mentorship programs. Most importantly SBIFF’s programs are always directed towards the under-represented and under-served communities within Santa Barbara County.
In 2016, SBIFF acquired the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.