The 2013 SBIFF runs from Jan 24th-Feb 3rd. It is arguably one of the most important international film festivals as it takes place every year just before the Oscars. The festival showcases domestic premiers and award-winning films from around the world and hosts multiple award ceremonies with some of the film industry's most talented artists, many of whom are up for Academy Awards. It is a fantastic festival to discover new films from around the world as well as watch your favorite stars give master classes or sit on panel receiving awards for greatness in their careers. This is certainly one of the industry's most eclectic festivals, and one of a kind.

After all, where else can I have a day like the one I had yesterday? I began the day with a filmmakers gourmet breakfast on Stearn's Wharf over the stunning Santa Barbara beach, sat in on a director's panel with some of Hollywood's most venerated directors, then did the same for some of Hollywood's most illustrious screenwriters, screened a documentary film about wine (A YEAR IN BURGUNDY, 2012) with free wine tastings to follow, screened a domestic premier of an Oscar nominated film ('NO', 2012) and then watched my favorite actor in the world (Daniel Day Lewis) sit on panel for three hours as he discussed his lifetime of work in cinema up-close-and-personal just days before he is about to make history and win a third Academy Award for Best Actor? ... Where else but at SBIFF?!

-Written by Vanessa McMahon, January 27th, 2013

**Stay tuned here for festival news, film reiews and interviews coming up:

http://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/santa_barbara

Read here to see this year's outstanding lineup of festival attendees: http://sbiff.org/

Actor Ben Affleck receiving the 'Modern Master' Award on January 25th, 2013. 

photos by Benjamin Schwartz.