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Although final Emmy voting has just begun (and will end on August 27th), the early signs of Oscar season are already upon us. Evidence of that is the annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film, often one of many honors bestowed on those who also might also figure in the Oscar race. For this year's 18th recipient of Santa Barbara International Film Festival honor, Cynthia Erivo has been announced as the honoree at a ceremony taking place on Thursday December 4, 2025 at a Black-Tie dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. This marks the fourth time the honor has been presented since the passing of the screen legend it was named after, and who often approved of those who were chosen for it.
Already a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner, Erivo will be aiming for EGOT status this coming season with her performance in Wicked : For Good, the second part of Universal's adaptation of the Broadway smash musical, Wicked which earned Erivo her third Academy Award nomination (two of them for Best Actress).
"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. It's entirely fitting that she receives the Kirk Douglas Award, which celebrates bold artistry and enduring impact in film," states Michael Douglas.
Erivo burst onto West End and Broadway stages in "The Color Purple," for which she won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical and has since become a major star. She most recently starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande's Glinda in Wicked from director Jon M. Chu, which earned 10 Academy Award nominations. Erivo garnered much critical acclaim for her performance, receiving Golden Globe, SAG, Critics' Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations. Wicked: For Good will be released on November 21, 2025.
Next, Erivo is set to start production on the film adaptation of Prima Facie, the Broadway sensation that originated on the West End. Under her Edith's Daughter production banner, she will also executive produce the film. It was also recently announced that Erivo will return to the West End starring as Bram Stoker's demonic vampire and 22 other roles in Kip William's Dracula , a one-woman theatrical extravaganza set for early 2026.
Since 2006, the annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film has been awarded to a lifelong contributor to cinema through their work in front of the camera, behind, or both. Past honorees include Will Ferrell, Ryan Gosling, Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Hugh Jackman, Dame Judi Dench, Warren Beatty, Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange, Forest Whitaker, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris, and John Travolta.
The 41 Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place February 4 - February 14, 2026. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout the city, including at the historic Arlington Theatre and at the soon-to-be-completed SBIFF Film Center.