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Filmmaker Interviews

'Santa Barbara Weed Country'

An interview with director Benjamin Goedert, a longtime SBIFF staffer whose debut short documentary covers cannabis issues.

'Santa Barbara Weed Country'

Though SBIFF’s development director Benjamin Goedert’s career in film goes back almost a decade, Santa Barbara Weed Country is his debut film. A measured look at the conflicts growing from Santa Barbara County’s cannabis industry, the 10-minute documentary is a brief look at the potential and problems that legal marijuana presents. It’s part of the short docs being shown as part of Closing Night on April 9 at the seaside drive-in.

Goedert tells us a little more about the film below.

What made you decide to jump into the controversial heap that is cannabis in Santa Barbara County?