Editor

PANELISTS PREPARE TO TALK SHOP AT SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

SANTA BARBARA, CA—Each year, cinephiles and interested locals are drawn to
the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for many reasons, a number of
which are the thought-provoking panels, which traditionally attract the names
behind some of Hollywood’s best big-budget and independent films.

This year will be no exception. An assortment of panels, ranging from music
to made-for-the-big-screen mayhem, will offer panelists a platform to discuss
their creative challenges and successes.

The series kicks off on the first weekend, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January
29, with “Movers & Shakers,” bringing together top producers to discuss
their craft. Moderated by Variety’s Deputy Editor, Elizabeth Guider, the panel
will include Stuart Benjamin (“Ray”), Lee Daniels (“The Woodsman”), Richard
Gladstein (“Finding Neverland”), Graham King (“The Aviator”), Michael London
(“Sideways”), Michael Nozik (“Motorcycle Diaries”), and John Walker (“The
Incredibles”). Panel takes place at the Lobero Theatre.

Next up is the ever-popular “It Starts With the Script,” the screenwriters
panel at 2:00 p.m. Moderated by AMPAS President Frank Pierson, participants
include Brad Bird (“The Incredibles”), Zach Braff (“Garden State”), Bill Condon
(“Kinsey”), Julie Delpy (“Before Sunset”), Paul Haggis (“Million Dollar
Baby”), Charlie Kauffman (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”), John Logan
(“The Aviator”), Jose Rivera (“Motorcycle Diaries”), and Jim Taylor
(“Sideways”). Panel takes place at the Lobero Theatre.

Starting off the day on Sunday, January 30, some of the female power players
from the entertainment industry will get together at 11:00 a.m. for “Creative
Forces: Women in the Biz.” Moderated by Variety’s Madelyn Hammond,
participants so far include Colleen Atwood, costume designer - Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” Karen Baldwin, producer - Ray”, Virginia Katz, film editor – “Kinsey,” and Virginia Madsen, actress – “Sideways.” The panel takes place at Victoria Hall.

The insights continue during the Fest’s second weekend with “Directors on
Directing” taking place on Saturday, February 5 at 11:00 a.m. Moderated by
producer and co-host of AMC’s “Sunday Morning Shootout” Peter Guber, scheduled to participate are Alejandro Amenebar (“Out to Sea”), Kevin Bacon (“Loverboy”),
Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”), Nicole Kassel (“The Woodman”), Walter Salles
(“Motorcycle Diaries”), and Joel Schumacher (“Phantom of the Opera”) . The
panel takes place at the Lobero Theatre.

“Scoring the Film” will take place at 2:00 p.m., moderated by film critic
and KUSC Radio host Jim Svejda and includes composers John Debney (“The Passion of the Christ”), Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles”), Jan Kaczmarek
(“Finding Neverland”), Rolfe Kent (“Sideways) and Mark Mothersbaugh (“The Life
Aquatic with Steve Zissou”) and Aaron Zigman (“The Notebook”). The panel takes place at the Lobero Theatre.

The Future of Nature Filmmaking: Classic or New Wave panel will take place on
Saturday, February 5, at 4:00 p.m., at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
History. Moderated by Mike deGruy, classic and new wave filmmakers will discuss world oceans, their art and dramatic new changes in the business of making nature films. Panel includes Thom Beers, Howard Hall, Michelle Hall, Michael Hanrahan, Bruce Reitherman.