Episode 20: Roger Durling, Santa Barbara Film Festival Executive Director

A Bend in the Road

From universities to coffee shops, from Broadway shows to the local movie theater, from Panama to NJ to France to NY to Santa Barbara, our guest this episode has had quite the journey to where he is now. Join guest host Diane Sims for a riveting conversation with Roger Durling, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Film Festival for the last 20 years, on how he fell in love with the silver screen, found his way to Santa Barbara, and saved & transformed the nearly dead film festival.
Things we talked about in this episode:
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Cinema In Flux by Roger Durling
SBIFF 2023 - Angela Bassett Discusses "The Jacksons" & "What's Love Got To Do With It?"
SBIFF 2022 - Roger Durling Opening Night Speech
SBFF 2023 - Outstanding Performer of The Year Award Honoring Cate Blanchett (Complete Event)
The Telluride Film Festival
Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
The Peddie School
Episode Credits:

• A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims
• Our Assistant Producer for this episode is Melissa Egan.
• Our editors are Melissa Egan and Roberta Panjwani with additional edits by Elias Rosner
• Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner
• Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims
• Our Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Melissa Egan
• Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas
• Special thanks to Roger Durling and our guest host Diane Sims
• Clips of Roger Durling and Angela Bassett are courtesy of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival