Santa Barbara Film Festival To Feature U.S. Premiere Of Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’

In February 7, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) will host the U.S. premiere of Kevin Costner’s grandiose western epic, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2.

The movie will be shown at the Arlington Theatre at 6 p.m., after Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 was shown there earlier in the day at 2 p.m. for free.

Santa Barbara – Details About The Santa Barbara Film Screening

This dual screening mirrors the approach taken at the Venice Film Festival last summer, where Chapter 2 had its world premiere. Venice Festival director Alberto Barbera had described the event as “a heartfelt and respectful tribute to the visionary project of a great actor and director.”

Costner, in turn, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “The fact that now they have decided to show Chapter 1 earlier in the day and then the world premiere of Chapter 2 that evening shows not only their belief in how the two films work together but their support of a director’s vision. I’m indebted to Alberto Barbera for his courage and leadership in committing to this cinematic journey.”

A Q&A with Costner, presided over by SBIFF executive director Roger Durling, will also take place at the Santa Barbara premiere right after the Chapter 2 screening.

Adding to the festival’s showcase of Costner’s work, Beyond the Horizon, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the Horizon films will be screened on February 13 at 8:20 p.m.

This will be followed by another Q&A featuring Costner and the documentary’s director, Mark Gillard, moderated by SBIFF programming director Claudia Puig.

Santa Barbara – A Visionary Project Despite Challenges

Horizon: An American Saga is a four-part epic chronicling pivotal moments in American history. The project’s ambitious scale is underscored by its reported $100 million budget, with Costner personally investing $38 million.

Despite his commitment, the first installment faced a lukewarm reception, earning $38 million worldwide and leading to delays in the release of Chapter 2.

Originally scheduled for theatrical release on August 16, 2024, Chapter 2 was removed from the summer lineup after Chapter 1 struggled to attract significant box office numbers and critical acclaim.

In July, the Venice Film Festival offered a lifeline, hosting the world premiere of Chapter 2 on September 7, where it received a standing ovation. The Santa Barbara event marks the next step in reintroducing the series to audiences and reigniting interest in the project.

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Santa Barbara – Looking Ahead

Costner, who stars in and co-wrote, directed, and produced the films, remains steadfast in his vision for the Horizon saga.

While plans for the third and fourth installments remain uncertain, the enthusiastic reception at Venice and the spotlight at Santa Barbara suggest there is still hope for the continuation of this cinematic journey.

For fans of Costner’s work and historical dramas, the SBIFF screenings and discussions offer a rare glimpse into the creative process behind Horizon: An American Saga. Whether these events will pave the way for a wider release of Chapter 2 remains to be seen, but anticipation is building.

Stay tuned for updates on the future of this ambitious saga.

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