City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara International Film Festival Announce Exciting New Lease Agreement for Fiesta 5 Theater
The City of Santa Barbara is thrilled to announce a new lease agreement with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) for the City-owned property located at 916 State Street, formerly known as the Fiesta 5 Theater. This marks a significant first step in the revitalization of the downtown corridor as a premier cultural and entertainment destination.
SBIFF has long been a cultural presence in Santa Barbara, most notably with its annual 11-day festival, which draws over 100,000 visitors that significantly boosts the local economy during a traditional slow period for tourism. The economic impact of this project will be profound. Not only will the annual festival continue to attract thousands of visitors, but the upgraded theater will offer year-round programming, which will drive consistent foot traffic to downtown businesses. The renovation will support local artists and filmmakers and attract new visitors, ensuring the downtown area remains a vibrant hub of activity.
Under this new lease agreement, SBIFF will undertake a transformative renovation of the Fiesta 5 Theater, turning it into a state-of-the-art facility that will host films, live events, and low cost or free educational programs for the community. Major renovations will start sometime after the 40th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February 2025, SBIFF hopes to begin showing movies at the location sometime in mid-November.
“This is one of the most important chapters in the history of SBIFF and just as we're celebrating forty years of its existence,” stated SBIFF Executive Director, Roger Durling. He continued, “This is a huge leap forward for the organization while simultaneously helping with the revitalization of the downtown corridor of Santa Barbara. We've successfully run a year-round art house, the Riviera Theatre, for the past eight years. Now we will have five more screens to mindfully curate, and we will redefine people's idea of what a sophisticated movie-going experience is all about. At SBIFF, our mission has always extended beyond film; we've used cinema as an educational tool. Now, with this expanded canvas, we can inspire and educate on an even grander scale!”
City Administrator Kelly McAdoo expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This lease agreement with SBIFF is a win for our community. It reinforces our commitment to fostering creativity and supporting the arts while delivering a significant economic boost to downtown Santa Barbara. We’re excited to see the long-term benefits of this partnership.”
This lease agreement also includes provisions for community benefit programming, offering free or low-cost events and educational opportunities, making the theater a key resource for underserved and underrepresented communities in Santa Barbara.
The lease terms include an initial five-year agreement, with the option to renew for an additional 25 years. During the first year, SBIFF will undergo a capital campaign to raise $15 million to fund extensive renovations.
For more information, please view the October 8 Council Agenda Report or contact Assistant City Attorney John Doimas at JDoimas@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
For more information about the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, please contact Managing Director Sean Pratt at sean@sbiff.org.
Together, we look forward to the positive cultural and economic impact this collaboration will bring to our community.