SACHA BARON COHEN
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER OF THE YEAR AWARD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021
TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON
Sacha Baron Cohen will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 36th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Baron Cohen will be honored on Wednesday, April 7 for his critically acclaimed work in both Aaron Sorkin’s THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 from Netflix and BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM from Amazon Studios.
Roger Durling (photo by Clint Weisman Studio)
“In 2020, Mr. Cohen twice was able to capture our interest, our imagination as well as the zeitgeist. His work in both films is timely, urgent, and nuanced,” noted SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling.
An Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and Golden Globe-winning actor, Sacha Baron Cohen is unmatched in his skills as a multi-hyphenate actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of iconic characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, Admiral General Aladeen, and Erran Morrad. Baron Cohen has also starred in Adam McKay’s TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY, Martin Scorsese’s HUGO, Tom Hooper’s LES MISÉRABLES, and Tim Burton’s SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.
Most recently, Baron Cohen starred in two politically driven and emotionally resonate films. Among a brilliant ensemble of actors in Aaron Sorkin’s THE TRIAL OF CHICAGO 7, Baron Cohen shines as real-life yippie activist Abbie Hoffman. Critics hailed his performance noting he is “savvy and soulfully aware of his urgency” and that he “brought deep resonance” with his performance as Hoffman. Similarly, Baron Cohen returned as his iconic character, “Borat,” in the global hit satire BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which he produced and co-wrote, and according to The New York Times’ AO Scott was “the best film of the year.” Additional critics declared Baron Cohen is “a brave comic genius, a new-age Peter Sellers” and “a master.”
Sacha Baron Cohen, above, named the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer of the Year for his work in two socio-political films, The Chicago 7, and, Borat Subsequent Movie Film. The award will be presented on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (Photo: LA Times)
“It’s an honor to be recognized and to stand in the company of such incredible past recipients,” said Baron Cohen. “I’m very grateful to Roger, SBIFF, and everyone who believes that cinema, whether drama or satire, can shine a light on injustice and bigotry and even provide a laugh or two along the way.”
The Outstanding Performers of the Year Award recognizes select individuals who have distinguished themselves with exceptional performances in film this past year. Past recipients of the award include 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.
Margot Robbie, left, and Allison Janney, are introduced at the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award Tribute for the 2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, at the Arlington Theatre, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
The 36th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place from March 31st through April 10th, 2021. More information, as well as Festival passes and tickets, will be available in the coming weeks at www.sbiff.org.
Rami Malek arrived in Santa Barbara amidst a light rain making his way to a busy red carpet and getting under cover.
Tom Donahue of ‘This Changes Everything’ on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Lisa G. Black of ‘The Bird Catcher” on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Jo Juarez, Nic Davis and Tim Williams of ‘Enormous: The Gorge Story’ on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Arthur Hakalahti of ‘The Bird Catcher” on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Vanessa Filho of ‘Angel Face’ on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Vanessa Filho of ‘Angel Face’ on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Trond Morten Kristensen of ‘The Bird Catcher” on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Lucy Boynton of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
Ross Clarke, left, and Jakob Cedersen of ‘The Bird Catcher” on the red carpet at the during 34th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
The uber-talented Malek, gracious and eloquent, posed for pictures and brief interviews before taking the stage with The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg at the historic Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, last night, February 1st.
Rami Malek, left, and moderator Scott Feinberg, enjoy a moment onstage during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer of the Year Tribute at the historic Arlington Theatre, February 1, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Photo credit: Larry Gleeson/HollywoodGlee)
In what might have been Feinberg’s best tribute conversation, The Hollywood Reporter Awards Columnist, showed his knowledge of Malek’s work and personal life while gently nudging Malek. Slowly, Malek began to open up and the enthusiastic crowd warmed up with more than one female voice calling out their love for the honoree.
Malek continued his steady composure sharing his experience in his auditions and with his directors with humor and a steadfast commitment to his craft. After watching several clips and the audience hanging on every Malek word, Feinberg addressed “the elephant in the room,” which turned out to be the firing of Bryan Singer as Director of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Out of his respect and admiration for Freddie Mercury and the band, Queen, Malek preferred to keep the attention and focus on them.
Malek accepted the award presented by friend and actor Joseph Mazzello. Malek seemed a little pensive afterwards as he thanked the audience and exited stage right with Mazzello. Seems as though we haven’t heard the last from Rami Malek….
