Academy Award® and BAFTA nominee Paul Giamatti will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Giamatti will be honored on February 14, 2024 for his moving portrayal of curmudgeonly prep school teacher Paul Hunham in Focus Features’ THE HOLDOVERS. Earlier this month, Giamatti was awarded both a Golden Globe & Critics Choice Award for his outstanding performance. “This is a long overdue tribute for an actor's actor who deserves all the accolades. 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” SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling noted. The Cinema Vanguard Award recognizes actors who have forged their own path, taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film. Previous honorees include Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Carey Mulligan, Laura Dern, Michael B. Jordan, William DaFoe, Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Jean Dujardin, Bernice Bejo, Nicole Kidman, Peter Sarsgaard, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci and Ryan Gosling.