Santa Barbara International Film Festival Plans New Film Center at Former Fiesta Five Location – Film News in Brief

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has unveiled plans to open a new film center in Downtown Santa Barbara at the former location of the Fiesta Five theater. SBIFF expects the center to open Nov. 14.

“This is one of the most important chapters in the history of SBIFF and just as we’re celebrating 40 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,” said SBIFF executive director Roger Durling. “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 moviegoing 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!”

The film center will operate year-round, screening foreign films, indies, documentaries, retrospectives of classic cinema and important filmmakers, family movies and free educational programming. After SBIFF, which takes place Feb. 4-15, the center will close for full renovations and re-open at a later date.

Reproductive Rights Documentary ‘Zurawski v. Texas’ Set to Host Additional Screenings Nationwide

The critically-acclaimed reproductive rights documentary “Zurawski v. Texas,” executive produced by Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Jennifer Lawrence, continues to gain traction following its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in August. The documentary, which has been in the conversation as an Oscar contender, is set to receive additional screenings around the country.

More impact screenings will be held this month in states that have abortion access initiatives on the ballot this November, in cities including Phoenix, Miami, St. Louis, Charlotte, N.C. and Las Vegas.

The documentary will also screen at 17 film festivals in October, including the Hamptons, Mill Valley, Heartland International Film Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Montclair and Chicago.

The story focuses on the consequences of abortion bans in women’s health by shedding light on the stories of women like Amanda Zurawski, who nearly died after being denied an emergency abortion. It also captures the legal fight for reproductive rights, led by attorney Molly Duane, as they seek to regain control over healthcare access in Texas and beyond.

Director Maisie Crow emphasized the need for screenings to raise awareness of such laws affecting reproductive rights. Previous screenings in cities like Austin, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C., were nearly sold out.