Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Sterling Properties & Estates

Over the past few weeks, many of us at Sterling Properties have had the pleasure of enjoying the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (January 26^th through February 5^th, 2012). This annual gala celebrates and honors the best films of the year as well as the actors, writers, and scores of other professionals involved in the process. With a unique combination of high profile celebrity guests alongside the strong local presence, the festival draws a crowd of over 70,000 each year.

Santa Barbara was gleaming with a star-studded crowd, with over 23 Academy Award nominees in attendance. A number of celebrities already enjoy Santa Barbara’s luxury real estate opportunities, such as Oprah, who resides in the exclusive community of Montecito and Rob Lowe, who enjoys a main home as well as a cozy beachfront property in Santa Barbara. The prestigious film festival draws even more stars to our beautiful town during its two weeks of exclusive screenings, awards, symposiums, and tributes. Some of this year’s exclusive guests included Martin Scorsese, Diane Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Plummer, Viola Davis, and Rooney Mara.

The festival’s main hub is situated on historic State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara, lined with many theaters and arts & entertainment venues conveniently within walking distance of each other. Santa Barbara’s signature Spanish-inspired architecture makes exploring the one-of-a-kind locally owned boutiques, fantastic restaurants, and theatres between screenings feel like a miniature Mediterranean vacation- we highly recommend the Red Tile Walking Tour, which will guide you through our favorite landmarks. Many of the festival’s premieres and ceremonies are held at the Arlington Theatre, notable for its stunning interior (complete with a star-sprinkled ceiling) and dramatic architecture.

In addition to everything film-related, there were numerous other events held in conjunction with the festival highlighting the varied and unique culture of Santa Barbara. Film Feast participants featured the best gastronomical delights our town has to offer, with ample opportunity to enjoy our incredibly fresh seafood and renowned local wineries.

The 27^th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival certainly didn’t disappoint. We can’t wait to see what (and who!) next year’s festivities will bring!