Ernesto Paredes elected new president of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) board of directors announced that board member Ernesto Paredes has been elected as the new President, a change from his previous role as an officer for nominations and governance, audit.

SBIFF now have two latino leaders in festival director Roger Durling and new president Ernesto Paredes who will bring a fresh perspective to the upcoming years.

Current president of the board Lynda Weinman will remain on the board after overseeing tremendous organisational growth over her eight-year tenure as board president. She was elected as co-chairman of the board alongside current chairman Jeffrey Barbakow.

“I am so very humbled and honoured to be selected by this powerhouse of a Board in support of Roger and an absolute “white glove” of an executive staff. I know I have tremendous shoes to fill, so having Lynda’s support means the world to me.” commented Ernesto Paredes.

Lynda Weinman previously taught digital media and motion graphics at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her passion for cinema and education helped launch the renovation of the historic Riviera Theatre and making it a new state-of-the-art, year-round home for SBIFF’s Cinema Society, showing new international and independent films daily. SBIFF is grateful to Lynda for her leadership.

Ernesto has been serving on the SBIFF Board since 2021. Raised in Santa Barbara, and father of two adult children Payton and Reyna, Ernesto is an avid triathlete, having completed eight Ironman distances, including The Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. Having attended Santa Barbara City College before transferring to the University of Southern California, majoring in Gerontology. In 2001, he became Executive Director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), then returning to Easy Lift Transportation in 2005 as Executive Director.

Ernesto is passionately devoted to the local non-profit sector. He has served on many local boards in leadership positions. Currently, he serves on the Cottage Health Board of Directors and as well as a Trustee for the Santa Barbara Foundation. Ernesto has also continued his professional development through nonprofit executive education programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education Programs.

Ernesto has been recognized for his community efforts. Recognitions include: Court TV “Every Day Hero” national award, Santa Barbara Independent “Local Hero,” Pacific Coast Times “40 under 40” award, Leadership of Santa Barbara County Distinguished Leaders award, San Marcos High School Foundation “Community Leader” award, and recently led Easy Lift Transportation to the prestigious Specialized Transit of the Year for California. In 2018, Ernesto was named Man of the Year by the Santa Barbara Foundation for his volunteer service to the community.