Thousands of students enjoy ‘Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies’ at SBIFF

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - "Mike's Field Trip to the Movies" gave thousands of Santa Barbara County students a chance to see a film and meet a movie maker as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Tuesday the first group came through and filled up nearly all of the 2000 seat Arlington Theatre. Today the next group arrives.

The Executive Director Roger Durling says this is one of his favorite events during the festival which he has stressed is "all-inclusive." As a boy, he was not able to go to the theaters or see films for financial reasons and he knows what it is like to live on a limited income for entertainment like this. That is why this offer to the students and schools is so important.

Durling says many of the schools this year are coming from underserved areas, and that reaches beyond the city of Santa Barbara to schools from Northern Santa Barbara County.

In past years the event was held in one day with a midday switch of children leaving and arriving at the same time. This year it's split over two days. That is allowing them to manage the number of busses that need to be parked in the area of the theater.

The students already have discussed the trip, the film industry and had a lesson plan from their teachers prior to coming to the Arlington for the event. A full program is recommended by the film festival to give the students the complete experience.

This year the students are seeing Frozen 2 and Toy Story 4.

The festival says the event was founded by the late acclaimed nature cinematographer Mike DeGruy. It explores how to use the art of filmmaking to stimulate creative, confident and culturally aware thinkers and empower students and teachers with a creative approach to education.

For more information go to: The Santa Barbara International Film Festival