East X West : Inspired by local actor-director Tim Matheson’s love for the extreme in Asian cinema, our East X West (formerly Cult Asian) sidebar continues the screenings of the slasher films, gloomy comedies, and haunting horrors of the popular cult Asian cinema as well as historical, romantic, and political dramas.
Santa Barbara Filmmakers : SBIFF celebrates the best of Santa Barbara filmmakers via a local program designed to simultaneously give residents a medium that extols their area roots while giving them a place amongst the world’s finest films.
Latino CineMedia : In conjunction with Latino CineMedia, SBIFF presents a collection of films from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and other Latin American countries, celebrating Santa Barbara’s rich Spanish and Latin American heritage.
To the Maxxx : With its breathtaking shots, mind blowing sounds, and compelling stories, the films of the “To the Maxxx” extreme sports sidebar of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival elicit the most oohs and aahs of the Festival.
Reel Nature : In 2004, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival introduced Reel Nature in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The films in this series not only attract crowds to the raw beauty of nature, but also educate and create awareness of the natural world around us.
AppleBox Family Film Festival : AppleBox is a family film program designed for children that is part of the main body of the festival. Screenings are specifically programmed for different age groups to appeal to children and the young at heart. In addition, filmmakers, such as Oscar nominated director John Lasseter (”Cars”) are often on hand to meet with the audience.