SBIFF American Riviera Award Honors Sam Rockwell

SBIFF American Riviera Award honoring Sam Rockwell, courtesy photos.

SBIFF American Riviera Award honoring Sam Rockwell, courtesy photos.

Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award winner Sam Rockwell is being honored with the 2018 American Riviera Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).

Rockwell’s tribute celebrates his acclaimed performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

“In Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, audiences are treated to the kind of mesmerizing and extraordinary performance we have come to expect from Sam Rockwell,” states Roger Durling, Executive Director of SBIFF. “We are long overdue to celebrate this tremendous talent who has lit up the screen for decades.”

The American Riviera Award was established to recognize actors who have made a significant contribution to American Cinema. Rockwell will join a prestigious group of past recipients, including 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.

The 33rd edition of the Festival runs from January 31 to February 10 and the American Riviera Award takes place on Wednesday, February 7, at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St..

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sbiff.org.

Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on January 24, 2018.

Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams to Receive American Riviera Award at SBIFF

(L-R): Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams will collectively receive the American Riviera Award at SBIFF in February. Courtesy photos.

(L-R): Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams will collectively receive the American Riviera Award at SBIFF in February. Courtesy photos.

Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams will be honored with the 2016 American Riviera Award at the 31st edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs from February 3 to February 13.  This is the first time the award will be given to three honorees, who are receiving critical acclaim for their collaboration in Tom McCarthy’s blisteringly true drama Spotlight.  

The American Riviera Award was established to recognize actors who have made a significant contribution to American Cinema.  Keaton, Ruffalo and McAdams will join a prestigious group of past recipients, including last year’s honorees Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke (2015), Robert Redford (2014), Quentin Tarantino (2013) and Martin Scorsese (2012), Annette Bening (2011), Sandra Bullock (2010), Mickey Rourke (2009), Tommy Lee Jones (2008), Forrest Whitaker (2007), Philip Seymour Hoffman (2006), Kevin Bacon (2005) and Diane Lane (2004).

“Michael, Mark and Rachel are three of the finest actors in the business.” says Festival Director Roger Durling, “They are artists in the truest sense of the word who continue to surprise and inspire audiences with their talent,” adding, “their recent turn in Spotlight demonstrates their skills both harmoniously as an ensemble and individually, it is an honor to celebrate their work with the American Riviera Award.”

For more information, visit sbiff.org.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on November 17, 2015.