The Santa Barbara International Film Festival Poster

The poster for the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), created by local artist Baret Boisson, centers on the powerful theme of artistic freedom and the essential need to support creators.

The Inspiration and Theme

Executive Director Roger Durling chose the theme “Supporting Artists” for 2026, noting that art programs in schools are currently struggling and often under attack. He commissioned Boisson after interviewing her for an article, giving her “free reign” to translate this vision into a visual medium.

Boisson’s artwork aims to capture the transportive power of cinema:

• The Portal: The central imagery represents art as a portal to different realms.
• The Immersion: It reflects the feeling of being “carried” by a film into another world.
• Artistic Freedom: Boisson intended for the piece to serve as a message that artists worldwide—whether in the U.S. or abroad—must be free to express themselves.

Symbolic Elements

The poster is a vibrant collage of eclectic symbols, though Boisson intentionally avoids providing a strict interpretation, preferring that viewers “feel what you feel” when they see it. Key visible elements include:

• The Eye and Film Reel: A dominant central eye with a film reel as the pupil, symbolizing the lens through which we view these alternate worlds.
• The Path and Figures: Small figures navigating a golden path, perhaps representing the artist’s journey or the audience being led into the narrative.
• JFK Quote: At the bottom of the poster is a poignant quote from John F. Kennedy’s 1963 speech:

“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”

This original artwork was revealed at the Sullivan Goss Gallery, emphasizing its status as a significant piece of local fine art as much as a promotional festival poster.