Iconic actor Brendan Fraser will receive the American Riviera Award at the 38th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The award recognizes actors who have contributed significantly to American Cinema. Previous recipients include Kristen Stewart, Delroy Lindo, Renée Zellweger, Viggo Mortenson, Sam Rockwell, Jeff Bridges, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Robert Redford, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Annette Bening, Sandra Bullock, Mickey Rourke, Tommy Lee Jones, Forrest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, and Diane Lane.
Fraser will receive the award Tuesday, February 14 where he will also take part in an in-person conversation about his career, leading up to his performance as Charlie in the upcoming A24 film The Whale. In an extremely divisive film from director Darren Aronofsky, Fraser plays a 600-pound reclusive man that is slowly eating himself to death and is given one last chance at redemption. The film is based on Samuel D. Hunter’s award-winning play.
“I’m so elated that we will be celebrating Brandon Fraser at SBIFF. Here’s a performer who brought us so much joy through the years, given us so many incredible cinematic memories, and now with the best performance of his career! We are thrilled to honor him!” remarked SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling.
The festival will take place from February 8-18, 2023. Events include screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes. Passes for the 2023 Festival are on sale now at sbiff.org.
