A documentary about the lives, loves and enduring influence of the Grandes Horizontales premieres this week at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. KCSB's Jackie Sedley spoke with the film's writer and director Leslie Zemickis, about what inspired her to present this never before seen in-depth look at the culture of the courtesan.

Grandes Horizontales will premiere Friday (3/4) at 8:40 p.m. in the Metro 3 on State Street. For a full list of SBIFF movies, events and panels go to sbiff.org.