The Santa Barbara International Film Festival hosted a glamorous evening of cinema, celebration, and heartfelt storytelling on January 13, 2024, as Ryan Gosling received the prestigious Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. Held at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort, the black-tie gala served as the festival’s major annual fundraiser, supporting SBIFF’s year-round educational programs across Santa Barbara County.

Now in its 16th year, the Kirk Douglas Award—created in partnership with the iconic actor and philanthropist—honors artists whose career achievements have left an enduring mark on the film world. This year’s honoree, Gosling, was recognized not only for his remarkable body of work but for a career defined by range, risk-taking, and rare comedic and dramatic depth.

A Night of Acclaim, Admiration, and Ken-ergy

The evening opened with film clips celebrating Gosling’s extraordinary filmography, from his early dramatic turns in Half Nelson and Blue Valentine to the cultural juggernaut that was Barbie. With his films earning more than $1.9 billion worldwide, as SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling noted, Gosling’s impact on modern cinema is undeniable.

As the tributes began, Barbie director Greta Gerwig delivered a moving, often humorous introduction—calling Gosling’s performance as Ken “her whole soul on display in the guise of a male actor playing a doll.”

Gerwig highlighted Gosling’s total commitment to the role, the emotional intelligence he brought to the film’s themes, and the way he elevated everyone around him on set.

“There would be no Barbie if he hadn’t come to be our Ken,” she said.
“If you want to keep playing, you better ante up—that’s what it’s like working with Ryan Gosling.”

Steve Carell Brings the Laughs

Gosling’s Crazy, Stupid, Love co-star Steve Carell followed with a speech that was both comedic and unexpectedly heartfelt.

“Ryan Gosling is a delightful guy,” he began. “Polite, keeps to himself, professional. But that’s not why we’re here.”

Then, leaning into the bit:

“Some people find him moderately handsome.
Time after time, he makes interesting creative choices.
What a f—ing asshole.”

The room erupted in laughter.

Carell continued with exaggerated jealousy, mocking Gosling’s reputation for kindness:

“Did you know he once saved a woman from being hit by a taxi? Saved a dog from being run over?
Ryan Gosling doesn’t advertise his good deeds—someone else always has to witness them.”

He closed with sincerity:

“He is smart, intuitive, funny… and most of all, he is kind. Santa Barbara, you got this one right.”

Gosling’s Gratitude and Humor Shine Through

Taking the stage to accept the award, Gosling delivered a characteristically humble and witty speech, admitting he was “not emotionally prepared” for the heartfelt tributes from Carell and Gerwig.

He reflected on his childhood inspirations, including the films of Kirk Douglas, and looked back on his beginnings as “the least talented kid on The Mickey Mouse Club”—sharing the stage then with the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake.

On working with Carell, he recalled moments on set where Carell’s performances were so funny that “the boom operator dropped the boom to hold his ribs.”

On Gerwig, he expressed admiration for her leadership on Barbie:

“Even though she was making one of the biggest films of all time, she never let the weight of the task get in the way of what was important.”

He also shared what movies have meant to him personally:

“I dreamed of making movies, and now movies have made my life a dream.”
“Most importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children.”

A Celebration with Purpose

Beyond the glamour, the Kirk Douglas Award Gala serves a mission at the heart of SBIFF: raising vital funds for the organization’s free educational programs, including:

• Mike’s FieldTrip to the Movies, bringing thousands of local students to screenings and filmmaker Q&As

• Film Studies Program, offering intensive training for aspiring young filmmakers

• Youth Filmmaking Workshops

• AppleBox Family Films, providing free screenings for families across the community

The evening featured a black-tie reception, a three-course dinner, and an audience filled with filmmakers, artists, industry leaders, and longtime festival supporters. It was a celebration not only of Ryan Gosling’s extraordinary career, but of the power of film to inspire, educate, and connect.

A Perfect Match of Artist and Honor

Gosling now joins an esteemed list of Kirk Douglas Award recipients, and his presence at the Bacara felt particularly poignant. As Gerwig noted during her tribute:

“He has the burning intensity of Brando, the tragic realism of Montgomery Clift, the virtuosic slickness of Travolta, the sly wit of Gene Wilder. Genius to genius.”

For SBIFF, it was a night that honored the past, celebrated the present, and invested in the future of filmmaking—an unforgettable evening pairing Hollywood excellence with Santa Barbara’s signature warmth and generosity.

For more festival coverage, red carpet galleries, and exclusive interviews, visit EventVault.com.

Gosling also spoke of his admiration for the late actor and how his films were an early childhood inspiration. He claimed to be “the least talented in a group of kids on The Mickey Mouse Club” (his cohorts included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake) and gushed about his two presenters: “If I knew that Steve and Greta were going to be this great — charming, smart, gracious, funny — I would have suggested that I open and they close, so we can end on a high note.”

Gosling’s modest acceptance was a great capper to the night he said he was “not emotionally prepared for.” He described working with Carell as a hilarious experience. “He was so damn funny that the boom operator dropped the boom to hold his ribs. That’s how hard he was laughing. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone be so good it was a problem.”

Of working with Gerwig, Gosling said, “Even though she was making one of the biggest films of all time, she never let the weight of the task get in the way of what was important or to overwhelm the joy of the moment.”

Gosling also talked about his love of the movies and how much they have given to him. “But most importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children. I dreamed of making movies, and now movies have made my life a dream.”