SBIFF Opening Night + Maltin Modern Master Award Honoree Adam Sandler, Jane Fonda, Connie Britton & More

Maltin Modern Master Award

ADAM SANDLER

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

and

Opening Night Red Carpet

A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

Adam Sandler arrives at the Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony.

(Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)

Jake Lacy, Nazanin Boniadi, Roger Durling, Emily Dillard and Nicola Rinciari attend the opening night film, "A Mosquito in the Ear".

(Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)

Jane Fonda and Connie Britton attend the Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony.

(Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)

SANTA BARBARA, FEBRUARY 5, 2026– The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) awarded actor Adam Sandler with the annual Maltin Modern Master Award. The award, which recognizes an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, was presented by actor and filmmaker Dustin Hoffman. The eventhad a completely sold-out audience. 

In attendance at the filmmaker red carpet was Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda, alongside other members of Gaslit, including fellow actress Connie Britton, director Katie Camosy, and film subjects Diane Wilson and Jenny Espino. Director Lara St. John of Dear Lara also appeared with the film’s producer Patrick Hamm, executive producer Stephen Judson, associate producer Sanjana Bhambhani, consulting producer Christy McGill, and editor Christie Herring. 

Other attendees included Yegor Troyanovsky, Director of Cuba & Alaska, with producer Olha Bregman, associate producer Ethan Bregman, and film protagonists Iuliia Sidorova and Oleksandra Lysytska; Little Lorrainedirector Andy Hines, producer Tom Doiron, and actor Auden Thornton; and Mockbuster director Anthony Frith, actor and producers Brendan Petrizzo and Paul Bales, and executive producer Madeleine Schumacher.

Last night on February 4, film lovers, awardees, and filmmakers gathered at the Arlington Theatre for the opening night and filmmaker red carpet ceremony for the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).  

The evening began with opening remarks from Santa Barbara International Film Festival Executive Director Roger Durling, followed by the world premiere of A Mosquito in the Ear.Director Nicola Rinciari took the stage alongside actor Jake Lacy, actress Nazanin Boniadi, and writer/producers Emily Dillard and Darren Dean and producer Ali K. Rizvi during the opening ceremony. 

Also spotted on the red carpet were members from A Cowboy In London, including Grammy-nominated singer and actor Charley Crockett and filmmaker/director Jared Christopher. Holy Days director Nat Boltt appeared alongside the film’s producers Michelle Morris and Sushant Desai. Director Dhafer L’Abidine (Sophia) was also in attendance. 

Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowsealso delivered remarks on stage, and Santa Barbara councilmembers Eric Friedman, Wendy Santamaria, Oscar Gutierrez, Kristen Sneddon along with City Administrator Kelly McAdoo were also in attendance. 

ABOUT THE SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 40 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes, and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, to engage, enrich, and inspire through film.

Sponsors of the 41st SBIFF include: Nora McNeely Hurley Foundation, FIJI Water, Santa Barbara City, Yardi, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Panavision, John C. Mithun Foundation, US Bank, Sonos, The Veraison Fund, Montecito Bank & Trust, The Fund for Santa Barbara, ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, Kaleidoscope Productions, Patagonia, Film Florida, Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts, American Society of Cinematographers, The Santa Barbara Independent, Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, Bentson Foundation, Morton Family Foundation, Zegar Family Fund, Volentine Family Foundation, Toad&Co, El Encanto, Longoria Wines, Topa Topa Brewing Company, Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, and many more generous supporters through donations and trade.

SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community throughout many free educational programs and events. SBIFF’s programs support over 18,000 kids, students and families in the local community by introducing film as an art form to young children with programs like AppleBox and Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies; teaching film analysis to high school and college students with programs like Rosebud and the Film Studies Program; and teaching the craft of screenwriting and filmmaking with Film Camp and 10-10-10 Mentorship programs. Most importantly SBIFF’s programs are always directed towards the under-represented and under-served communities within Santa Barbara County.

More recently, SBIFF secured a long-term lease for the iconic multi-plex at 916 State Street in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. This landmark acquisition and recent renovation of a state-of-the-art Film Center will be a vibrant, year-round destination that will serve as a central hub for cinema enthusiasts and the heart of SBIFF’s renowned Film Festival. Building on the success of the Riviera Theatre revitalization in 2016 and the opening of its own Education Center in 2019 in the downtown area, SBIFF continues to strengthen its commitment to the cultural fabric of Santa Barbara.