Matt Ogens News Today

The Disney+ doc Madu tells the inspirational story of a young man whose viral moment led him from Lagos, Nigeria, to studying ballet in Birmingham, England.

Capsule Film Reviews While SBIFF ended a few weeks ago, this is the first chance I’ve had to write about it. 200 films and shorts from around the world were premiered and obviously, I cannot review all of them. However, I chose four that I particularly enjoyed and one that I absolutely detes

'Madu' on Disney+ tells the story of a young boy who went viral for ballet dancing.

'Madu' on Disney+ tells the story of a young boy who went viral for ballet dancing.

'Madu' on Disney+ tells the story of a young boy who went viral for ballet dancing.

'Madu' on Disney+ tells the story of a young boy who went viral for ballet dancing.

'Madu' on Disney+ tells the story of a young boy who went viral for ballet dancing.

Check out the trailer for MADU, which follows 12-year-old Anthony Madu as he leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world in England.

With only half an hour until the Santa Barbara Film Festival kicked off for its 39th anniversary, the rain came pouring down on the Arlington Theatre, the klieg lights illuminating the raindrops falling through the dark sky. Nonetheless, the world premiere for Disney’s “MADU” stayed on schedule.  Despite the rainy beginning, Director Joel Kachi Benson...

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling shares how the fest balances entertainment and education as it enters its 39th year.