MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Santa Barbara
International Film Festival
BY L. PAUL MANN
T
he 29th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival has become one of the most
important stops on the festival circuit for many of today’s top filmmakers and actors.
Happening just before the Academy Awards, the event has consistently attracted the
biggest stars of the industry. This year was no exception with most of the major Oscar
nominated participants in attendance. But, even though the festival has become a huge
paparazzi event rarely seen in sleepy, secretive Santa Barbara, the festival has also maintained its
roots, showcasing important documentaries and adventure sports films.
Many of these films revolved around a fascination with the world’s oceans. In a fitting
tribute to underwater cinematographer Mike deGruy, this years opening film was an urgent
environmental message delivered by oceanographer Dr. Sylvie Earle in the documentary film
“Mission Blue.” DeGruy was the festival organizer of the nature series for many years, before
tragically being killed two years ago in a helicopter crash while scouting a film location. He
filmed some of the remarkable underwater footage in “Mission Blue.” Dr. Earle is one of the
most renowned oceanographers in the world, having spent no less than 6,000 hours scuba
diving across the globe. The magnificent cinematography in the film is a backdrop to Dr.
Earle’s plea to save the world’s oceans and its inhabitants from human pollution and ultimate
extinction. The former chief scientist at NOAA, Dr. Earle paints a dire picture of the world’s
future if society doesn’t change its view of the ocean as the world’s garbage can.
The festival also featured two surfing documentaries. Unlike like last year's duo of gut
wrenching, dramatic big wave documentaries, including “Chasing Maverick’s,” and Australia’s
“Storm Surfers,” this year’s films focused on surf culture.
“A Life Outside”
Featuring six New Jersey surfing pioneers reminiscing
on their lives revolving around the waves at the Casino Pier
in Seaside Heights. The film takes a nostalgic look back at
the birth of surf culture in the area and reveals the struggles
of the aging surfers coming to terms with the balance
between surfing and family values. The film also includes extensive interviews with several
of the earliest world champions in the sport of surfing and their take on the same struggles
and responsibilities as aging surfers. The film also takes an unexpected turn at the end with
the unforeseen devasta