Emily Blunt selected for the festival’s marquee honor
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced that Emily Blunt will receive its 19th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. The presentation is scheduled for December 10 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, ahead of the festival’s 2027 edition.
Blunt follows Cynthia Erivo, last year’s recipient, in an award presented since 2006. Previous honorees include Martin Scorsese, Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Forest Whitaker, Jessica Lange, Judi Dench, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Yeoh and Quentin Tarantino.
Award recognizes a wide-ranging screen career
Michael Douglas said in a statement accompanying the announcement that Blunt “moves between drama, comedy and blockbuster spectacle with the same precision and commitment,” adding that this range and authenticity reflect the purpose of the Kirk Douglas Award.
Blunt was nominated for the supporting-actress Oscar for Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” in 2024. Her film credits also include “A Quiet Place,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “Sicario,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Into the Woods” and “Mary Poppins Returns,” as well as 2025’s “The Smashing Machine.”
Her 2026 films include “Disclosure Day,” directed by Steven Spielberg and released in June, and “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in which she reprised her role from the original film.
December gala supports film education
The black-tie presentation will double as a fundraiser for the festival and its year-round educational programs. The Santa Barbara festival describes the annual honor as the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film.
The 42nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival is scheduled to run from February 3 through February 13, 2027.
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