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.
Casting Director's Panel: SBIFF2026
As part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Casting Directors Panel brings together some of the industry’s most influential casting voices for an in-depth conversation on shaping performances, discovering talent, and building unforgettable ensembles.
Moderated by Debra Birnbaum of Gold Derby, the panel offers a behind-the-scenes look at how casting decisions help define tone, character, and story—often becoming the invisible foundation of great filmmaking.
Panelists include Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent), Nina Gold (Hamnet), Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another), Francine Maisler (Sinners), and Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme).
A must-see discussion for anyone curious about how iconic performances begin long before the cameras roll.
Saturday, February 7 • 2:00 PM
Arlington Theatre
Related Cards
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Nov 27, 2025 Hamnet (2025)No StreamingFrom Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, Hamnet tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
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Sep 26, 2025 One Battle After Another (2025)HBO MaxFrom Warner Bros. Pictures and Academy Award-nominated, BAFTA-winning filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson comes “One Battle After Another,” starring Academy Award and BAFTA winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Apr 18, 2025 Sinners (2025)HBO Max Amazon PrimeTrying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
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Dec 25, 2025 Marty Supreme (2025)"Marty Supreme" is a sports drama, loosely inspired by the life of table tennis champion Marty Reisman, following his journey from a hustler in Manhattan to a champion, with Timothée Chalamet in the lead role.
