Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Tinsletown Tidbits

A charity party at Petros Cafe across the street from the

Arlington Theatre was the place to be on SBIFF Opening Night. Roger Durling SBIFF Executive Director was welcomed by Petros, the owner of the chic new Greek restaurant. Proceeds from the event benefited local non-profits Casa Esperanza and the Community Kitchen, which feeds over 650 meals a day to the hungry and homeless in Santa Barbara. The party preceeded an outstanding red carpet walk by a bevy of celebrities into the Arlington for a viewing of Darling Companion. The premiere showing received an standing ovation.

Viola Davis was presented the Performer of the Year Award for her

performance in The Help. Mrs Medgar Evers presented the award. Academy Award Nominee and fellow cast member of The Help Octavia Stevens also walked the red carpet and praised the SBIFF for honoring Viola Davis for her outstanding performance. Both women expressed their gratitude to be a part of such an important film portraying the grace and dignity of these significant characters created by Taylor Tate, writer/producer of the film. On January 29th Viola Davis won the Actor from SAG for her performance, and The Help won best picture.

Christopher Plummer was awarded the Modern Master Award for his outstanding

career, and he and looked quite dapper coming up the red carpet. His interview was filled with brilliant wit, human perspective and the true passion of a great actor, which delighted an overflowing house of admirers. Christopher Plummer also won The Actor from SAG as Best Supporting Actor on January 29th.

The film Barrymore recieved raves from SBIFF movie goers and the press attending the festival.

Plummer thanked his wife, shared how wonderfully whacky actors are, and thanked his daughter, who he said is also a whacky actor. He appreciated being given the award by the Screen Actors Guild and thanked everyone.

SBIFF ongoing information and award presentation updates will be seen in TinselTown Tidbits February Issue. For information or tickets visit:www.sbiff.org.

Roger Durling, Executive Director of the SBIFF, has begun to name those being honored at this year’s festival. The American Riviera Award, sponsored by lynda.com will be awarded to Academy Award-winning director, screenwriter, producer and film historian Martin Scorsese, making it the first time the award has been bestowed on a director.

Award-winning actress Viola Davis will be honored with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award on Friday, January 27. This award is sponsored by the Chumash Casino Resort. The award celebrates her compelling performance in Tate Taylor’s The Help.

Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s highest honor, The Modern Master Award, sponsored by Lynda.com.

Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo will receive The Cinema Vanguard Award on February 4 at the Arlington Theatre to honor their performances in the silent film “The Artist.”

The 27^thSanta Barbara International Film Festival presented by lynda.com, which takes place January 26 through February 5, is pleased to announce the addition of the World Premiere of THE SAMARITAN, starring Academy Award® nominated Samuel L. Jackson, to the program as a Gala Presentation. The red carpet Gala event will take place on Sunday, January 29, at 7pm at the Lobero Theatre.

Produced by Andras Hamori and directed by David Weaver from a screenplay by Weaver and Elan Mastai, The Samaritan also stars Luke Kirby (Take This Waltz), Ruth Negga (Love/Hate) and Oscar nominated Tom Wilkinson (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol). After twenty-five years in prison, Foley (Jackson) is finished with the grifter’s life. When he meets an elusive young woman named Iris (Negga), the possibility of a new start looks real. But his past is proving to be a stubborn companion: Ethan (Kirby), the son of his former partner, has an ingenious plan and he wants Foley in. The harder Foley tries to escape his past, the tighter he is ensnared in Ethan’s web of secrets, until it becomes all too clear to Foley that some wrongs can never be made right.

THE SAMARITAN was produced with the participation of Telefim Canada, Ontario Media Development Corporation and The Harold Greenberg Fund. Producers are Hamori and Weaver with Suzanne Cheriton and Tony Wosk, Executive producers are Mark Musselman with Lacia Kornylo, Mark Horowitz, Jackson, Eli Selden, Geoffrey Brant, James Atherton, and Jan Pace.

IFC Films recently acquired the U.S. distribution rights from H2O Motion Pictures and Traction Media. H2O and Quckfire Films is selling international rights for The Samaritan.

SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling says "THE SAMARITAN is an electrifying neo-noir thriller with amazing twists and turns. Samuel L. Jackson's performance is fantastic."

For festival and ticket information, log onto www.sbiff.org.

On Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. the Santa Barbara Theatre Organ Society will present a concert featuring renowned organist John Ledwon at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State Street, Santa Barbara, California.

Mr. John Ledwon, staff organist at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for over twelve years, will perform post 1950 music, including hit pop songs of the later twentieth century, and musical theatre and film score selections. Ledwon’s CDs created by the artist will be on sale in the lobby of the Arlington Theatre on the day of the concert.

Tickets will be sold at the Arlington Theatre one hour before performance. Cost: $11.00 adults, free to children under 12 accompanied by an adult. For information contact: 805-963-4408 or 805-685-9891.