Bowline Films Presents

Locals Only – The BIG Little Pub

Bowline Films is pleased to announce the world premiere of the documentary short film, Locals Only – The BIG Little Pub as an official selection of the 38th Santa Barbara International Film festival.

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Locals Only – The BIG Little Pub tells the story of The Press Room - a British Cocktail pub in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. It may only be 850 sqft but it has the heart and soul of a big pub. The home for local football (soccer) fans the pub is more than just a quaint watering hole. Over the past 25 years, it has become a home away from home for people from all walks of life thanks to its owner, James Rafferty, and his family. Abruptly faced with demolition to make way for luxury housing its regulars and the wider community rally to its side to save it.

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The world premiere screening will take place on Tuesday, February 14th at 7.40 pm at the Fiesta 5 Theater with an additional screening on Wednesday, February 15th at 5.40 pm at the Metro 4 Theater in Santa Barbara as part of the Santa Barbara Shorts – Community, Arts & Connection shorts block. Both screenings will be followed by a Q&A with writer & director Gareth Kelly and producer Travis Vassallo.

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“In England 'pub life' is a thing and an important thing at that. It’s one of the things I miss most living in the U.S. A place like Cheers, where everyone knows your name, a place you can walk into, see a friendly face, have a chat about anything, and know you’re in a safe and loving environment. A place we call a 'local'. It may be small but this ‘local’ occupies a big piece of many people’s hearts including my own. Add football (soccer) into the mix and I knew I had to make a film about this special place especially as it faces an uncertain future,” Gareth Kelly, writer & director.

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This is Kelly’s second film at SBIFF in as many years following up on the successful release of the short documentary film Fresh to Frightening – The Sharon Green Story. Kelly also produced the narrative short film, The Golden Cage also having its world premiere at this year’s festival.