Santa Barbara

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jane Campion hug at the Cinema Vanguard Award during the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at Arlington Theatre on March 9, 2022 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)

Day 8 of the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival presented by UGG featured a tribute to Benedict Cumberbatch, who received the Cinema Vanguard Award. Cumberbatch was honored for his  remarkable career and most recent performance in Jane Campion’s THE POWER OF THE DOG on Netflix. 

Cumberbatch sat down with Deadline’s awards columnist, Pete Hammond for an in depth discussion about his career.

Some of the highlights from the conversation included:

• Cumberbatch rocked the red carpet in a black Dior suit. See HERE.
• A master of impressions: Cumberbatch treated the audience to some spot-on celebrity impressions including Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, and Tom Holland. Of Holland, Cumberbatch said, “I’ve seen that guy grow! He’s a MAN now, he ain’t a boy!” Check it out HERE!
• On whether or not his kids know he is famous: “We try to give them as much of a normal childhood as we can… they get it more from their friends that I’m Dr. Strange… the time will come where they can either enjoy that or run a million fucking miles from it!” Watch HERE.
• On Sherlock and the potential for more episodes: “It was such a fun ride… I say that in past tense, but we never say never… for now anyway! Watch HERE.
• On being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: “It’s great! It’s a big old playpen… I feel very fortunate to be your Dr. Strange, that’s what I am! I really do. It’s a great honor, there’s just a lot of fun to be had.” Watch HERE.
• On playing many iconic real-life figures throughout his career: “It comes with an added weight I suppose, but you are serving the drama, you’re a storyteller, and you have to take a certain amount of artistic license and you have to be forgiven a little bit for that… you’re carrying their actions and image into the world… so yes, it does carry some responsibility.” Watch HERE.
• When asked what he could share about the new Dr. Strange film, out later this year: “Absolutely fucking nothing! If you came here tonight for that reason, you have to leave now, you need to get home quick!” Watch HERE. (5:40)

During Cumberbatch’s conversation with Hammond, guests enjoyed clips from his acting career, including 12 Years A Slave, The Imitation Game, Sherlock, Dr. Strange, Patrick Melrose, Stephen Hawking’s Universe, and Power of the Dog. 

Following Cumberbatch’s conversation with Hammond, Jane Campion presented him with the Cinema Vanguard Award. When presenting, Campion told Cumberbatch, “Every generation has their wunderkinds. First there was Olivier, then there was Daniel Day Lewis… and now there is you.” Watch HERE.

Upon accepting his award, Cumberbatch said: “Vanguard means to be at the front of something, doesn’t it? You can’t really be at the front of anything without anyone behind you… I do feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of many, many people… I thank every single one of you that has paid for a ticket and gone to a theater.” Watch HERE. (6:40)

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 Carey Mulligan, Laura Dern, Michael B. Jordan, William DeFoe, Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, Nicole Kidman, Peter Sarsgaard, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci and Ryan Gosling.

Upcoming live conversations and tributes will include presentations to Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, and the women’s panel. The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG®, will take place IN-PERSON through March 12, 2022. 200+ films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout Santa Barbara, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup is available on SBIFF’s mobile app. For additional information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.