Forty years ago, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) began with a $20,000 grant from the City of Santa Barbara to boost local economic growth. From these humble beginnings 40 years ago, we've built one of the top ten film festivals in the country—respected worldwide for celebrating cinema, introducing audiences to diverse voices, and providing free educational programs for more than 18,000 kids, students, and families each year.
Now, a historic opportunity has arrived. In October 2024, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved SBIFF’s acquisition of a long-term lease at 916 State Street—right in the heart of downtown. This marks a pivotal moment for the Festival and the City: the creation of The McHurley Film Center.The McHurley Film Center will be a hub of creativity and community. At a moment when access to diverse storytelling and communal spaces is shrinking, The McHurley Film Center will safeguard the art of cinema in Santa Barbara. It will expand screenings from 1,000 to more than 6,000 annually, house five state-of-the-art auditoriums, and provide a permanent home for SBIFF’s world-renowned 11-day Festival.
This is more than a renovation—we've taken the long-neglected property down to the studs for an elegant, state-of-the-art rebuild that will serve as a cornerstone of Santa Barbara's cultural identity. The McHurley Film Center will feature sophisticated arthouse programming including independent films, foreign films, documentaries, retrospectives and family-friendly fare, industry-best projection and sound, plush new seating, enhanced ADA accessibility, modern HVAC and restrooms, and even a rotating film-themed art gallery. It will elevate the moviegoing experience while also playing a leading role in revitalizing State Street.As downtown Santa Barbara reinvents itself, The McHurley Film Center will bring vibrancy, foot traffic, and beauty to the city’s core. Together with other civic initiatives, it will strengthen our local economy and ensure that storytelling remains at the center of community life.
Now, a historic opportunity has arrived. In October 2024, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously approved SBIFF’s acquisition of a long-term lease at 916 State Street—right in the heart of downtown. This marks a pivotal moment for the Festival and the City: the creation of The McHurley Film Center.The McHurley Film Center will be a hub of creativity and community. At a moment when access to diverse storytelling and communal spaces is shrinking, The McHurley Film Center will safeguard the art of cinema in Santa Barbara. It will expand screenings from 1,000 to more than 6,000 annually, house five state-of-the-art auditoriums, and provide a permanent home for SBIFF’s world-renowned 11-day Festival.
This is more than a renovation—we've taken the long-neglected property down to the studs for an elegant, state-of-the-art rebuild that will serve as a cornerstone of Santa Barbara's cultural identity. The McHurley Film Center will feature sophisticated arthouse programming including independent films, foreign films, documentaries, retrospectives and family-friendly fare, industry-best projection and sound, plush new seating, enhanced ADA accessibility, modern HVAC and restrooms, and even a rotating film-themed art gallery. It will elevate the moviegoing experience while also playing a leading role in revitalizing State Street.As downtown Santa Barbara reinvents itself, The McHurley Film Center will bring vibrancy, foot traffic, and beauty to the city’s core. Together with other civic initiatives, it will strengthen our local economy and ensure that storytelling remains at the center of community life.