Lithuanians heading to the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival

News from Santa Barbara: The 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is happening from February 4–15, showcasing a lineup of films from 60 countries. This year, the festival is partnering with Direct Relief to help those affected by California Wildfires, making it a celebration of cinema with a meaningful cause.

I’m pleased to share that a Lithuanian film is part of the 2025 program—DROWNING DRY Filmas SESĖS by director Laurynas Bareiša. Fresh from its North American premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, this acclaimed film has received international recognition. It won Best Director and Best Acting awards at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and was also Lithuania’s official Oscar entry. The film explores themes of loss, resilience, and human connection.

Screening Times:

• Wednesday, Feb. 5 @ 12:00 PM / Riviera Theatre

• Thursday, Feb. 6 @ 5:00 PM / Film Center Auditorium #1

• Saturday, Feb. 8 @ 9:00 PM / Film Center Auditorium #4

Get your tickets and see the full lineup here: https://sbiff.org/

Excited to see Anu-Laura Tuttelberg’s “On Weary Wings Go By”—an Estonia-Lithuania collaboration—heading to Santa Barbara! This animated short highlights the incredible talent of both countries. Big kudos to producer Agnė Adomėnė and the Art Shot team from Vilnius for their amazing work. Here’s to more success in captivating audiences everywhere!

Catch the animated shorts screening on Feb. 6 at 5:20 PM and Feb. 8 at 12:00 PM. Visit the festival website for tickets and more details! sbiff.org

Hope to see you at the festival!