International Directors Panel: SBIFF2026

A rare, global conversation with today’s most daring international filmmakers, the International Directors Panel brings Oscar-nominated directors together to unpack the creative vision and craft behind this year’s most acclaimed films at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

2025 · Directed by Oliver Laxe · 1h 55m

A father (Sergi López) and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They’re searching for Mar — daughter and sister — who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties.

2025 · Directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho · 2h 41m

Amid the raucous revelry of Carnival week, a widower named Marcelo (Wagner Moura) arrives in 1977 in Recife, Brazil, a city as vibrant as it is violent.

2025 · Directed by Jafar Panahi · 1h 43m

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his former sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal's identit

2025 · Directed by Joachim Trier · 2h 13m

Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part

2025 · Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania · 1h 29m

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