“It’s all about the films.”

Roger Durling wants everyone to look beyond the glamorous celebrities and exclusive red carpet events at the 23rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. As the festival’s executive director for the past five years, he is delighted with the phenomenal growth and success during his tenure. But he compares their current situation with that of ... a shopkeeper.

“It’s like having window dressing to draw attention,” he says of the appearances by hot Hollywood stars like this year’s attendees Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling, Ellen Page and others.

“You have to do a glamorous window to attract people. Then, you hope they look beyond the facade and discover a wonderful group of films.”

He admits that the media and public are attracted by the big names, “but they forget it is supposed to be about the movies,” he says in a phone interview from his Santa Barbara office.

Known for his spiked hair of ever-changing hues and wardrobe of black-on-black, Durling claims that he is “a boring person outside of talking about film. I’m a very shy person who has to be ‘on.’ That is my signature, like a costume you put on.”

More than 2,000 movies from around the world were submitted for the festival this year. Durling estimates that he spends 45 percent of each day looking at films.

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Each submitted film is watched first by three preliminary screeners. If they give the thumbs up, the film is then screened by a festival programmer, either Durling, UCSB professor Christina Venegas (Spanish-language films), actor Tim Matheson (Asian films), Mike deGruy (nature films), or Russ Spencer (local filmmakers and surf films).

Durling attends other festivals, including Cannes, where he sees up to seven films in a day. “A lot of selections I have made are from films I’ve seen at festivals,” he said.

“When deciding what films to program, I look for something that is off the beaten path. There is a ‘festival circuit’ and some films are seen everywhere. I want films that haven’t been exposed too much, so we typically have a lot of American premieres.”

He also wants films with “unique voices, things that you’re not going to see in the malls and cineplexes.”

Santa Barbara County filmmakers are now well represented. “Before we took over,” he notes, “they weren’t. We have over 25 films by local filmmakers this festival.”

He won’t name any particular favorite film in this year’s line up, but he will admit to being especially thrilled that actor Javier Bardem is attending, as the recipient of the Montecito Award for his career performances.

“He’s one that I have been holding out for, just waiting for the right moment,” says Durling. “I have always been such a huge fan of his work. He is such a chameleon, you don’t recognize him from film to film. He’s an ultimate artist.”

Is there anyone he might be intimidated by? “My staff knows that when a great director is coming, I get giddy. I was when I met Martin Scorsese and again with Julian Schnabel. When and if I see Clint Eastwood, my knees will buckle.”

OPENING NIGHT

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival opens with “Definitely, Maybe,” a romantic comedy featuring that great kid from “Little Miss Sunshine” Abigail Breslin, plus Ryan Reynolds, and Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Arlington Theatre.

Then there are 220 films, including 20 World Premieres, 22 U.S. premieres and films representing 49 countries. The festival runs through Sunday, Feb. 3, at various Santa Barbara venues. Get daily updates at www.sbiff .org and recommendations on Roger Durling’s daily blog, www.filmgeekconfidential.com.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Last year, 36 Oscar nominees were either panelists, honorees or “Conversations With” guests at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. These must-see festival events were scheduled before last week’s Golden Globe announcements. The Oscar nominations will be announced this Tuesday — does Roger Durling have a crystal ball?

Julie Christie won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for “Away From Her,” and will be the subject of a tribute Friday, Jan. 25, at the Lobero Theatre.

Angelina Jolie, nominated for “A Mighty Heart,” receives the Outstanding Performance of the Year Award on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Arlington Theatre.

Cate Blanchett was nominated along with Jolie and Christie for the Drama Golden Globe, but instead won Best Supporting Actress for her turn as Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There.” She is feted Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Arlington.

Javier Bardem got the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama for “No Country for Old Men.” He will be at the Arlington on Monday, Jan. 28.

Ryan Gosling (nominated for “Lars and the Real Girl”) gets his star turn on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Lobero.

A whole passel of young artists receive the Virtuoso Awards on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Lobero, including Marion Cotillard (GG winner for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in “La Vie En Rose”), Casey Affleck (nominated for “The Assassination of Jesse James...”), Ellen Page (nominated for “Juno”) and Amy Ryan (nominated for “Gone Baby Gone”).

Not nominated but he should have been: Tommy Lee Jones was in both “No Country for Old Men” and “In the Garden of Elah” this year. He’ll be honored on Friday, Feb. 1, at the Arlington.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, the festival screens “The Pixar Story,” followed by Conversation with Brad Bird, the Academy Award-winner for “The Incredibles” and Golden Globe winner for this year’s “Ratatouille.”

Honorary Mention: Norman Jewison has personally been nominated for four Oscars; his films have received 46 nominations and 12 Academy Awards. He’s the Festival Guest Director and you can see screenings of “In the Heat of the Night,” “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “Moonstruck.”

SURVIVAL GUIDE: ‘Bring food’ and other tips from a festival pro

Longtime Film Festival patron Peter Crawford has words of wisdom for enjoying — and surviving — the film festival.

n “Arrive super early. Don’t try to go out before. Don’t try to meet up with pals. Just get to the show.” Screenings sell out, and unless you have a Platinum Pass, you can be out of luck.

n “Bring your own food. There is no time in-between shows to eat, and you can’t eat in the theater.” Stow a cooler in your car and dash out between screenings.

n Talk to people in line. “You end up waiting for so long, you never know who you are going to meet. One time, I realized I was arguing about a film with an Academy Award nominee.”

n “The panels are always better than you think. They are never full and always so good.” With the writer’s strike, the Writer’s Panel is sure to be provocative this year.

n Park in a parking lot. “For the first few years, I tried to move the car between screenings. It’s better to just leave it in the lot.”

n Try some of the offbeat screenings that start at 10 p.m. or later. “These are the films you won’t see anywhere else, the ones that everyone will be talking about.”

n On meeting celebrities on the red carpet or at screenings: “You have to go for it. It’s not like you are bothering them during lunch. They know what is going on. If you are shy, you will regret it.”

n Final note: “For me, it’s the one time of year when politics and religion don’t matter. I can talk to anyone and just say, ‘What did you think about this movie?’”