Santa Barbara International Film Festival Film Center in the Midst of Full Renovation
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The debut of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Film Center is on track to completion by the beginning of the year.
Crews have been tearing out the inside of the building in the 900 block of State Street and creating what Executive Director Roger Durling has said would be one-of-a-kind ‘movie palace.’
The goal was to have it finished by the 2026 International Film Festival where it will serve as the main site for the 200 films. The Arlington Theatre up the street will remain the location for the tributes than can draw 2000 movie fans.
The former Fiesta Five theatre will still have its five screens and seating will remain in line with what was there before. Three theatres will have more than 200 seats and two will have 100 seats.
The theater, which opened in November of 2024, is in an existing building for a Santa Barbara parking lot.
The festival staff ran it until May then work began on a brand new state-of-the-art five-screen theatre in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara.
It was previously run by Metropolitan Theatres.
The new theatre will have a new entrance with a “red carpet” feel from the tile design. It will also have a fully accessible inside ramp for those who are mobility challenged.
The lobby will have state of the art ticketing in person or with phone apps.
The bathrooms will have more stalls and multiple entrances and exits.
One of the changes will be a substantial increase in insulation. That will keep the sound from each theatre from getting into another film showing. It will also help muffle and sound from the parking structure above the ceiling.
The work is being done by Consolidated Contractors.
The project costs is $20-million dollars. Fundraising is ongoing but more than half of it has been secured.
(More details, video and photos will be added later today)
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