2007 Santa Barbara Film Festival

2007 Santa Barbara Film Festival

A number of notable celebrities appeared at the 22^nd annual Santa Barbara Film Festival. The event, which took place January 25^th through February 4^th, 2007 honored some of the past year’s performances and movies as well as showcased some of this year’s most highly anticipated films. What were some of the highlights of the 2007 Santa Barbara Film Festival?

Amazing Grace

Ioan Gruffudd (who was on hand at the festival) and Albert Finney star in “Amazing Grace” which premiered as the “Centerpiece Film” at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Based on the true story of William Wilberforce (Gruffudd), the movie showcases his diligence in the effort to abolish the slave trade in Britain in the 1700s.

Factory Girl

Sienna Miller was one of the stars of “Factory Girl” who made an appearance for the film’s premiere on the festival’s opening night. The movie focuses on the life of “It Girl” Edie Sedgwick, her rise to fame with Andy Warhol (Guy Pearce) and her subsequent downfall.

Fido

Fido (Billy Connolly) is a zombie and best friend of young Timmy (K’Sun Ray). But when Timmy’s parents (Carrie_Anne Moss and Dylan Baker) insist on getting rid of Fido, what will the boy do to keep him?

First Snow

Jimmy Stark is at his wits end when a psychic predicts his downfall. “First Snow” stars Guy Pearce and Piper Perabo.

Gray Matters

The movie that closed the film festival was “Gray Matters” starring Heather Graham, Molly Shannon and Sissy Spacek. The comedy tells the story of a young woman (Graham) who falls in love with her brother’s (Thomas Cavanagh) girlfriend (Bridget Moynahan).

Man In The Chair

Flash (Christopher Plummer), the last surviving member of the film crew from Citizen Kane befriends the troubled teen Cameron Kincaid (Micahel Angarano) who is determined to become a filmmaker. “Man in the Chair” also stars Robert Wagner.

Music Within

Ron Livingston stars in the true life story of Richard Pimentel, a public speaker who uses his abilities to champion the disabled when his hearing becomes impaired. “Music Within” also stars Rececca De Mornay, Hector Elizondo and Leslie Nielson.

Payback

There is plenty more mayhem in this re-cut/re-release of the 1999 hit movie “Payback” starring Mel Gibson and Maria Bello. Porter (Gibson) has revenge on his mind after being shot in the back and his money stolen. The movie also stars Lucy Liu and Kris Kristofferson.

Spiral

Things seem to get better in the workplace for Mason (Joel Moore) when a new co-worker (Amber Tamblyn) shows up. But will their friendship be destroyed by personal demons from Mason’s past?

Trade

Kevin Kline stars in the thriller/drama “Trade”. The movie tells the story of Jorge (Cesar Ramos) a teen who is determined to save his younger sister Adriana (Paulina Gaitan) when she is kidnapped by men involved in trafficking.

The TV Set

“The TV Set” takes a look at the process of a television program from its early conception through actually being broadcast on the airwaves. The movie stars David Duchovny, Ioan Gruffudd and Sigourney Weaver.

Special screenings of “Borat”, “Half Nelson”, “Hounddog”, “The Last King of Scotland”, “Little Children”, “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Queen” were also featured at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Bill Condon

Bill Condon received the festival’s Montecito Award. The award, which honors the recipient’s work in a variety of movies, showcases Condon’s directing work on “Dreamgirls”, “Gods and Monsters” and “Kinsey”.

Al Gore and David Guggenheim

Al Gore and David Guggenheim were recipients of the festival’s Sir Davd Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking. James Cameron presented the award to the duo for their work on the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”.

Helen Mirren

The odds on favorite to win the Academy Award was presented with the festival’s Outstanding Performance of the Year Award. Mirren, who has starred in “Excalibur”, “Calendar Girls” and Gosford Park, received the award for her critically acclaimed performance as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen”.

Will Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were on hand when at the Santa Barbara Film when Will Smith received the Modern Master Award. Smith, who is an Oscar nominee for his work in The Pursuit of Happyness, has also starred in “Ali”, “Independence Day” and “Bad Boys”.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker, who has been receiving critical praise for his work in “The Last King of Scotland”, received the festival’s American Riviera Award. Whitaker received the award for his work not only in this film but for his outstanding performances in such movies as “Platoon”, “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Panic Room”.

Be sure to visit the festival’s official site for more information on the Santa Barbara Film Festival.