With the strike finally over, Santa Barbara International Film Festival wasted no time in announcing its first award of the season. Ryan Gosling — whose critically acclaimed performance in this year’s Barbie has been generating Oscar buzz from the get-go — will receive the 16th annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at a black-tie dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.
A fundraiser to benefit Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s year-round educational programs, this will be the second time since the passing of screen legend Kirk Douglas that the honor will be awarded. Last year’s award went to eventual Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh .
“Ryan Gosling has long been both a dramatic and comedic force in front of the camera. This year, thanks to his universally hailed, triumphant performance as Ken in Barbie — a film that truly demanded the attention of critics and moviegoers around the world — he has become a true cinematic powerhouse,” said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.