Editor

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore at the 25th edition of the Festival with the Montecito Award, which runs February 4 -14, 2010, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Tribute will take place Thursday, February 11, at the historic Arlington Theatre.

The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career, and has previously been presented to Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Naomi Watts and Annette Bening, who was the very first recipient in 2005. Julianne Moore is the quintessential actress, easily transitioning from light humor to heavy dramatic roles, expertly guiding us on each of her characters' individual journeys.

"This four-time Oscar nominee is a cinematic treasure," says Roger Durling. "Her performances in Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours, Far From Heaven and many others is the stuff of legends."

Moore certainly has made an indelible impression since coming on the scene with such films as Benny and Joon, Short Cuts and Vanya on 42nd Street. In 1995 director Todd Haynes gave Moore her first lead role in Safe, for which she received critical praise, as well as winning the Independent Spirit Award. Proving she was equally adept at romantic comedy Moore starred as Hugh Grant's pregnant girlfriend in "Nine Months". In 1997 she received her first Academy Award nomination, as well as Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her co-starring role in the film "Boogie Nights" opposite Mark Wahlberg and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. In 1998, Moore played an erotic artist in the Coen Brother's film "The Big Lebowski," followed by the 1999 re-make of "Psycho," directed by Gus Van Sant. That same year, she reteamed with director Paul Thomas Anderson in the film "Magnolia."

Moore is the ninth person in Academy history to receive two acting Oscar® nominations in the same year for her compelling and deeply emotional performances in "Far From Heaven," directed by Todd Haynesand "The Hours," starring with Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Once again, Moore gives a stand-out performance in "A Single Man", opposite Colin Firth and directed by first-time helmer Tom Ford. Moore's portrayal of Charley, a London socialite as well as one of Firth's character's oldest and dearest friends, is both intoxicating and endearing. The film premiered at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.

The Montecito Award Tribute to Julianne Moore, on Thursday, February 11, will take place at the Arlington Theatre. Tickets for the event will go on sale today and can be purchased at a 20% discount through December 31 at www.sbfilmfestival.org or through the Lobero Box Office, 805.963.0761 and the Arlington Theater Box office, 805.963.4408. Festival Platinum and Cinema Passes are currently on sale exclusively at the Lobero Box Office. Box Office fees will apply for all Film Festival Passes, Mini-Paks, and event tickets.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, set to run February 4 - 14, 2010, is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching local culture and raising consciousness of film as an art form. The SBIFF presents quality American and world independent films, Latin American and Asian sidebars as well as documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara, a premier tourist destination. The SBIFF is also committed to education through its Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Field Trip to the Movies, and educational seminars. With a projected audience of over 70,000 viewing more than 200 films over its eleven-day run, the SBIFF attracts an affluent local and national consumer base, while maintaining strong ties with the entertainment industry in nearby Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.sbfilmfestival.org.