Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026 Winners Announced

Steal This Story, Please, A Mosquito in the Ear, and more take top honors at the 41st annual festival.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has announced the winners of its 2026 edition, with Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's Steal This Story, Please taking home the Audience Choice Award. Other winning films include Nicola Rinciari's A Mosquito in the Ear, Laura Wandel's Adam's Sake, Katie Camosy's Gaslit, Andrés Clariond Rangel's Versailles, and Florence Miailhe's Papillon.

Why it matters

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is one of the premier independent film festivals in the United States, showcasing the best in independent cinema from around the world. The announcement of the 2026 winners highlights the diverse and talented filmmakers being recognized for their impactful stories and cinematic achievements.

The details

The winning films were selected by a jury that included Adam Guettel, Adrien Martinez, Jordana Brewster, Joseph Novoa, Karla Quintero, Langdon Page, Marissa Chibas, Michael Patti, Tina Sawtelle, and Travis Preston. The festival featured a wide range of films from countries including Mexico, India, Belgium, Japan, France, Italy, and Germany, all telling essential stories about the human condition.

  • The 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival took place in February 2026.
  • The winners were announced during a ceremony on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Directors of the Audience Choice Award-winning film Steal This Story, Please.

Nicola Rinciari

Director of the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema winner A Mosquito in the Ear.

Laura Wandel

Director of the Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award for Best International Feature Film winner Adam's Sake.

Katie Camosy

Director of the Best Documentary Award winner Gaslit.

Andrés Clariond Rangel

Director of the Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema winner Versailles.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to celebrate such a wonderful array of winning films that represent the best independent creatives working today. All these outstanding films tell essential stories that speak eloquently about the human condition.”

— Claudia Puig, SBIFF programming director (Deadline)

The takeaway

The 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival showcased the breadth and depth of independent cinema, with winning films hailing from around the world and tackling a diverse range of themes and stories. This year's winners demonstrate the power of independent filmmaking to captivate audiences and shed light on the human experience.