Roger Durling, director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, has penned an essay in The Hollywood Reporter disclosing that he was the victim of abuse by a priest when he was a boy in Panama. Durling writes that the movie “Spotlight’’ helped him feel as though he “was not invisible anymore.’’

“I feared the idea of watching ‘Spotlight,’ but as the credits rolled, there was an incredible feeling of cathartic liberation,’’ Durling says in his essay, of the local movie, which follows The Boston Globe Spotlight Team’s investigation of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. Durling continues by listing some other influential films.

“I’ll never forget seeing Stephen Frears’ ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’ in 1986, with a gay couple portrayed as normal. In 2012, I saw Stephen Chbosky’s underrated ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ and experienced a young man struggling with the fact that he’d been abused. That helped me understand that I wasn’t isolated. And now I have Tom McCarthy’s Oscar-nominated film “Spotlight,’’ one of the most honest portrayals of seeking justice for victims. I never wanted retribution for what happened to me, but now at least I’m allowed to feel vindicated.’’

“Spotlight’’ stars Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, and Rachel McAdams will be in Santa Barbara on Friday to pick up the festival’s American Riviera Award for their contribution to cinema. “Black Mass’’ star Johnny Depp was scheduled to pick up the festival’s Maltin Modern Master Award on Thursday.