Joel Schumacher's psychological thriller The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey gets its world premiere at the 2007 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), which runs from Jan 25-Feb 4.

The festival will open with George Hickenlooper's Edie Sedgwick biopic Factory Girl starring Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce and closes with Sue Kramer's gay screwball comedy Grey Matters starring Heather Graham and Bridget Moynahan.

Michael Apted's historical drama Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffudd is the centerpiece screening and takes its place in a retrospective of Apted's work chosen by the film maker as the festival's inaugural guest director.

The festival's most ambitious roster to date features 22 world premieres and 18 US premieres and includes films from 40 countries.

World premiere screenings include Jessie Deeter's Liberian civil war documentary Taking Guns From Boys (Liberia/USA) and Matthew Nourse's grieving drama The Pacific And Eddy (US) starring Ryan Donowho and Dominique Swain. US premieres include Alejandro Gomez Monteverde's romance Bella (US) and Tony Kaye's abortion documentary Lake Of Fire (US).

Dreamgirls director Bill Condon will receive the Montecito Award in honour of his career achievements, while the Sir David Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking tribute will be presented to Al Gore and director Davis Guggenheim for An Inconvenient Truth.

As previously announced Helen Mirren will receive the Outstanding Performance of the Year award for her role in The Queen. Will Smith will receive the Modern Master Award and Forest Whitaker will collect the American Riviera Award.

The award ceremony will take place on Jan 26. For more details about the festival visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.

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