Cate Blanchett will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 38th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Lydia Tár in Todd Feld’s TÁR. Setting a historic record, this is the second time Blanchett will be feted at the festival as the Outstanding Performer of the Year. In 2014, she received the honor for her role as Jasmine French in Blue Jasmine, for which she also won the Oscar for Best Actress. In 2008, she was crowned the Modern Master Award for her role as Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There.
“Cate Blanchett is an artist that has nothing left to prove; she is one of the most brilliant actresses ever – yet she keeps challenging herself and proving over and over again that she’s the most outstanding performer!” SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling noted.
Academy Award-winning actor, Blanchett plays the titular role and executive produces Todd Field’s third feature film TÁR, which marks the writer-director-producer’s first film in over 15 years. The film was warmly welcomed at the Telluride Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival, where Blanchett was awarded the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress for her second time since I’m Not There. This fall, Blanchett will appear in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio and the mockumentary hit series Documentary Now! She has now begun production in Australia on Warwick Thornton’s The New Boy, in which she stars and produces via the production company Dirty Films. She most recently wrapped production on Disclaimer, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, in which she also stars and executive produces. In 2021, Blanchett appeared in Adam McKay’s Oscar-nominated, Don’t Look Up, as well as Guillermo Del Toro’s Nightmare Alley.
The Outstanding Performer of the Year Award recognizes select individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional performances in film. Past recipients of the award include Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, Sacha Baron Cohen, Adam Driver, Rami Malek, Margot Robbie and Allison Janney, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan, Steve Carell, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, James Franco, Colin Firth, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron.
The 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place LIVE February 8 – February 18, 2023.