Honorees: America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Andrew Scott, Moderated by Dave Karger

withcSURPRISE PERFORMANCE OF OSCAR® NOMINATED SONG "WAHZHAZE" (A SONG FOR MY PEOPLE) FROM KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY SCOTT GEORGE, PERFORMED BY OSAGE TRIBAL SINGERS

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Photo Credit Becky Sapp, Video Credit: Courtesy of SBIFF

39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival - Virtuosos Award  - Honorees, America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Andrew Scott

America Ferrera (Barbie)

Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)

Greta Lee (Past Lives)

Charles Melton (May December)

Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers)

Presenter Jane Lynch (Actress)

Moderator Dave Karger (Turner Classic Movies)

Quotes from the Awards Presentation:

• Speaking about the Barbie script, America Ferrera shared, “From page one it was a delight. It was so unexpected and Noah and Greta’s vision was so singular.”
• Speaking about her monologue in Barbie, America Ferrera said, “What I feel is that it needed to be brought into the culture and I feel so grateful that I go to do that.”
• On the nominations of Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone shared, “I’m so grateful to share this historical nomination with Scott George.”
• Speaking about being the first Native American best actress nominee, “A win for one of us means a win for all of us.”
• Speaking on Celine Song recasting the role of Nora a year later, Greta Lee shared, “It really does reflect the tenets of the movie. I feel so firmly that I have inyeon with the movie.”
• Greta Lee said, “This script was so striking for so many reasons. Both small,  urgent, and necessary. Like everything I had been searching for all my life.”
• Charles Melton shared, “I knew that I had to prepare like I’ve never prepared before, and leave it in the hands of Todd Haynes.”
• Charles Melton said, “There were days I doubted myself but I trusted the filmmaking process and my work. That was a gift.”
• About getting into the role of Mary Lamb, Da’Vine Joy Randolph shared, “We cooked oatmeal, soup, I made lunch for them, and the Sunday Christmas dinner, Alexander and I came up with the menu.”
• Speaking about a touching interaction she had with someone who had just watched The Holdovers, "Da’Vine Joy Randolph said, “I walked passed her and she was sniffling. She grabbed my arm and she hugged me. That’s the stuff you dream of.”
• Speaking on the importance of All of Us Strangers, Andrew Scott shared, “Tenderness between two men is radical. Vulnerability is our greatest power.”
• Andrew Scott said, “I hope we can talk about films in a way that is less cynical, and we can see ourselves in completely opposing nationalities or genders.”

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is honored to announce the second group of recipients to receive the Virtuosos Award, an honor created to recognize a select group of talent whose noteworthy performances in films this season have elevated them into the national cinematic dialogue. America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Andrew Scott will discuss their work and receive their awards in-person on Saturday, February 10 during the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The last four year’s Virtuosos honorees were Austin Butler, Kerry Condon, Danielle Deadwyler, Nina Hoss, Stephanie Hsu, Jeremy Pope, Ke Huy Quan, Jeremy Strong, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose, Jamie Dornan, Alana Haim, Ciarán Hinds, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur, Simon Rex, Saniyya Sidney, Riz Ahmed, Maria Bakalova, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Andra Day, Sidney Flanigan, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, Zendaya, Awkwafina, Taron Egerton, Cynthia Erivo, Beanie Feldstein, Aldis Hodge, George MacKay, Florence Pugh, and Taylor Russell.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 38 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes, and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.

Sponsors of the 39th SBIFF include: Manitou Fund, Black Market Spirits, DAOU Vineyards, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Panavision, Santa Barbara City, US Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Yardi, Kaleidoscope Productions, ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, American Society of Cinematographers, John C. Mithun Foundation, Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation, Northern Trust, Netflix, Visit The Santa Ynez Valley, Bentson Foundation, Volentine Family Foundation, Toad&Co, Topa Topa Brewing Company, Boxed Water Is Better, Saige Private Wealth, El Encanto and many more generous supporters.

SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community throughout many free educational programs and events. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.

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