For a short time, diehard New Yorker Kevin Bacon thought seriously about moving to Santa Barbara County.

"My wife (actress Kyra Sedgwick) said she wanted to start looking at houses near Los Angeles," Bacon said during a phone interview. "At first she said, /Let/s move to Seattle/ because she/s a little geographically challenged. Then we settled on Santa Barbara."

Alas, it wasn/t meant to be, as the couple decided to stay unicoastal.

However, the 46-year-old Bacon will return to his almost-home during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs from Friday through March 6.

The controversial film "The Woodsman" 77 in which he stars as a convicted child molester dealing with life outside prison 77 will play, as well as his feature film directorial debut, "Loverboy."

That movie, about an obsessive mother, stars the actor, along with his wife and 12-year-old daughter, Sosie Bacon.

"We always tried to steer our kids away from show business," the father of two said with a chuckle. "But she seemed right for the role."

Bacon will also receive the "American Riviera Award," an award established to honor those who have influenced American Cinema.

The actor has appeared in dozens of movies, from 1978/s hit "Animal House" to the recent critical smash "Mystic River." He often steals the show with his naturalistic, low-key performances.

Bacon said he is looking forward to the accolades.

"If someone wants to give me a little encouragement, that/s fine with me," Bacon said. "I don/t think acting is a horse race or a meat market, but acknowledgment for my work is great."

Actors Annette Bening, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett will be honored for their screen work during the 10-day event.

The 20th Santa Barbara International Film Festival opens Friday with a screening of Woody Allen/s "Melinda, Melinda," which explores both the comic and tragic elements of love. Rhadha Mitchell, Will Farrell and Chloe Sevigny star.

The festival also boasts the world premiere of "Dave Barry/s Complete Guide to Guys," directed by Santa Barbara resident Jeff Arch and starring John Cleese.

For more information, log onto www.sbfilmfestival.org. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.tixstar.com or by calling (800) 504-8587.

* Staff writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at 739-2217 or by e-mail at qcushner@pulitzer.net.

Jan. 23, 2005