Santa Barbara Film Fest: ‘Holdovers’ Oscar Nominee Paul Giamatti Tapped for Cinema Vanguard Award (Exclusive)

Paul Giamatti, the veteran character actor who is currently generating considerable best actor Oscar buzz for his performance in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers — for his portrayal of a curmudgeonly boarding school teacher, he won best actor National Board of Review, Critics Choice and Golden Globe awards en route to his pending SAG, BAFTA and Academy award nominations — will receive the Santa Barbara International Film Festival‘s Cinema Vanguard Award on Feb. 14, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively report.

Giamatti will be presented with the honor, which recognizes “actors who have forged their own path, taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film,” following a career-retrospective conversation at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theater that will be moderated by yours truly.

Previous recipients include Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Carey Mulligan, Laura Dern, Michael B. Jordan, Willem Dafoe, Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Jean Dujardin and Bernice Bejo, Nicole Kidman, Peter Sarsgaard, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci and Ryan Gosling.

Giamatti, 56, is now a two-time Oscar nominee, three-time Golden Globe and SAG award winner, two-time Critics Choice award winner and winner of Emmy and Spirit awards. His past credits include 2003’s American Splendor, 2004’s Sideways, 2005’s Cinderella Man, 2006’s The Illusionist, the 2008 limited series John Adams, 2012’s Win Win, 2013’s 12 Years a Slave and the drama series Billions. He can currently be seen in the second season of HBO Europe’s hit Spanish-horror series 30 Coins and heard co-hosting the Chinwag podcast with author and philosopher Stephen Asma.

“This is a long overdue tribute for an actor’s actor who deserves all the accolades,” SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said in a statement. “His work has been exemplary and his collaborations with Alexander Payne are nothing short of perfection. I can’t think of anyone more worthy of this recognition for a performance in a film that so effortlessly navigates the intricate tapestry of human relationships.”

The 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will run Feb. 7-17.