FIRST OFF . . .

The Santa Barbara International Film festival lost four of its eight-member board of directors, who resigned shortly after the festival’s conclusion last week, citing difficulties with executive director Phyllis de Picciotto. According to the Santa Barbara News-Press, the members felt De Picciotto failed to carry out the board’s plans for the two-year-old festival and instead ran what board member Ian Bernard called “the Phyllis de Picciotto Film Festival.” De Picciotto commented, “They have a right to feel that way if they want to” and said she and the three remaining board members will meet in April to discuss the festival’s future.