The Santa Barbara International Film Festival recently celebrated some of the most talented performers of the year at its 39th edition. Six remarkable actors were honored at the Virtuosos Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in film. The recipients included America Ferrera for her role in 'Barbie,' Lily Gladstone for 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' Greta Lee for 'Past Lives,' Charles Melton for 'May December,' Da’Vine Joy Randolph for 'The Holdovers,' and Andrew Scott for 'All of Us Strangers.'
During the event at the Arlington Theater, the actors took the stage with Turner Classic Movies host, Dave Karger, and shared their experiences filming their respective movies. The audience had the opportunity to hear from these talented performers during a roundtable discussion before Jane Lynch presented them with their well-deserved trophies.
One of the highlights of the evening was hearing about the interactions the actors had with their idols. Lily Gladstone, who received an Oscar nomination for her role in 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' shared her awe-inspiring encounter with Cate Blanchett, whom she considers her queen. Gladstone couldn't believe that Blanchett praised her performance at a recent event in London, saying, 'I'm glad it's on video because I wouldn't believe it.' She expressed her gratitude, saying, 'Since I wanted to act in film, my queen has been Cate Blanchett — and she still is.'
Greta Lee, known for her role in the award-winning film 'Past Lives,' joked about her brother being her acting idol until she heard praise from renowned personalities like Nicolas Cage, Jennifer Lopez, and Guillermo del Toro during this surreal awards season. Lee also hilariously recounted an awkward encounter with Jennifer Lopez, where she couldn't think of anything else to say except, 'I wuv you J-Wo.' Nonetheless, the support and accolades she received were overwhelming.
Andrew Scott, who earned rave reviews for his role in 'All of Us Strangers,' spoke highly of Jodie Foster, with whom he shared a special moment at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards. Scott playfully recalled saying, 'I wuv you Jo-wie Foster,' imitating Greta Lee's baby-like delivery.
Charles Melton, who appeared alongside Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in 'May December,' revealed that Joaquin Phoenix commended his breakout performance. America Ferrera, who received an Oscar nomination for her remarkable work in Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie,' shared her overwhelming experience of receiving kind words from her idol, Tom Hanks, at an event. Ferrera emotionally stated, 'Oh man, I'm not going to cry. He came up to me and said very nice things to me, and I'm still recovering from it. I'm not ready to talk about what he said!'
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, recognized for her role in 'The Holdovers,' not only received accolades but also garnered praise from her 'Only Murders in the Building' co-star, Meryl Streep. Randolph humorously mimicked a mic drop, conveying her amusement to her fellow honorees.
The Santa Barbara Film Festival is a major stepping stone for award contenders on their journey to the Academy Awards. The Virtuosos Awards recipients within the 2024 Oscar nominees include Danielle Brooks, Lily Gladstone, America Ferrera, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Colman Domingo. The anticipation for the 96th annual Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is building, and it will air live on Sunday, March 10, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
In addition to the Virtuosos Awards, the Santa Barbara Film Festival has honored several other notable figures in the industry, such as Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, and Robert Downey Jr. Mark Ruffalo, Martin Scorsese, Justine Triet, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, and Annette Bening will also receive well-deserved accolades at the festival.
