SANTA BARBARA, CA — The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) has announced that Tony®, GRAMMY®, Emmy Award-winning and three-time Academy Award-nominated actor, singer, and producer Cynthia Erivo will receive this year’s Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. The honor will be presented at a black-tie dinner on December 4, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, with proceeds supporting SBIFF’s year-round educational programs.

This marks the 18th presentation of the prestigious award—and only the fourth since the passing of screen legend Kirk Douglas.

“Cynthia Erivo is a singular talent whose depth, range, and fearless commitment to her craft embody the spirit of excellence my father championed throughout his life,” said Michael Douglas. “It’s entirely fitting that she receives the Kirk Douglas Award, which celebrates bold artistry and enduring impact in film.”

Erivo first captivated audiences on stage in The Color Purple, earning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, before taking Hollywood by storm. Her most recent turn as Elphaba in Universal’s record-breaking adaptation of Wicked—opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda—cemented her as one of the defining talents of her generation. The film became the most successful Broadway adaptation in history, earning ten Academy Award nominations and universal acclaim for Erivo’s powerful performance, which also garnered nominations from the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA, NAACP, and the Academy Awards.

She’ll reprise her role this fall in Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated cinematic conclusion arriving November 21, 2025.

Looking ahead, Erivo will star in and executive produce the film adaptation of Prima Facie under her Edith’s Daughterproduction banner, and is set to return to London’s West End in early 2026 for a bold one-woman interpretation of Dracula, portraying Bram Stoker’s vampire and 22 other characters.

Since 2006, the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film has honored those who have made a lasting impact on cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Past recipients include Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Robert De Niro, Quentin Tarantino, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas.

The 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival will return February 4–14, 2026, featuring world premieres, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes across Santa Barbara—including at the historic Arlington Theatre and the soon-to-open SBIFF Film Center. Passes for the 2026 Festival are on sale now at sbiff.org.

Last year’s edition featured over 200 films from 60 countries and attracted more than 50 Academy Award winners and nominees, reinforcing Santa Barbara’s reputation as one of the most anticipated stops on the awards-season circuit.

Red Carpet & Reception - 5:30PM, Dinner at 7:00PM.