SBIFF brings the world to Santa Barbara’s doorstep, but it’s also the best annual chance for homegrown filmmakers to shine on the big screen. Here are this year’s SBIFF selections with Santa Barbara connections.
FEATURES
Every 40 Years: Filmmaker Eric Goldrich grew up hearing rumors that his dad once played in a rock band, so he and co-director Benjamin Friedberg investigate the legend through this feature-length documentary. They reveal the flash-in-the-pan, Billboard Top 40 phenomenon that was Gunhill Road, how the music industry thwarted the band’s aspirations, and then why some of the members (including Santa Barbara’s Glenn Leopold) decided to dust off their guitars and do it again. “Regardless of how ‘big’ they did or didn’t get, the fact that they opened (and closed) for some of the most legendary acts of our time still blows my mind,” said Goldrich. “As cool or as nerdy as my dad was growing up, his musical story certainly made him even cooler.”