Ryan Gosling speaks onstage while accepting award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Kirk Douglas Award Honoring Ryan Gosling at The Ritz Carlton Bacara on January 13, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
After a joyous pre-reception, attendees joined the award recipient for an upscale dinner. During the evening’s festivities, a wide range of figures, including SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, director Greta Gerwig, and Crazy, Stupid, Love and The Big Short co-star Steve Carell shared many a kind word about the Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling.
Roger Durling said: “In 2023, Ryan becomes the biggest special effect in the cultural phenomenon that is Barbie, directed by the magician that is Greta Gerwig.”
Roger Durling said: “Ryan is pitch perfect in Barbie - perfect in timing, vulnerable, and having the time of his life.”
Roger Durling called Ryan: “One of the best actors working in cinema today.”
Roger Durling said about the evening that, “This is the first time in our history that we’ve done this event that it’s sold out. And it has raised the most amount of money ever. Kudos to the Ken-ergy and Ryan Gosling.”
Roger Durling said: “One of the many things that I admire about Ryan is that on screen, to me, Ryan always comes across as soulful and seemingly preoccupied with some profound mystery.”
Roger Durling said: “No current American actor has made more first-class films in so many genres.”
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Steve Carell opened his speech by joking that: “Ryan Gosling is a delightful guy. He is polite, he tends to keep to himself, he is professional. But that’s not why we’re all here tonight. Tonight I want to ask the question - why do I hate Ryan Gosling?”
Steve Carell shared that: “Ryan Gosling was going to spend his Friday night playing music at a senior center.”
Steve Carell said: “Did you know that he once saved a woman from being hit by a taxi? Saved a dog from being run over on the highway? De-escalated a confrontation between total strangers? Drove to New Orleans to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? Did you know that the only reason we know that he did any of these things is because someone saw him? Ryan Gosling doesn’t advertise his good deeds.”
Steve Carell said: “Time after time he makes interesting creative choices. He’s not driven by money, or fame, or status. … What makes it worse is that it’s genuine.”
Steve Carell joked: “I do love Ryan Gosling. I love him more than my wife. He is smart and intuitive and funny, he is a joy to be around, and most of all, and this is a big one for me, he is kind. Santa Barbara, you got this one right.”
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Speaking about Greta Gerwig, Roger Durling said: “In three films she has established herself as one of the greatest directors and one of the most important voices.”
Greta’s introduction was followed by a standing ovation.
Greta Gerwig said: “There is no one that I would rather be giving a speech about than Ryan Gosling. He is so outrageously talented, it’s hard to know where exactly to begin.”
Greta Gerwig said: “I love, and everyone loves, referencing other actors when they talk about Ryan, because he is such a delicious and totally unexpected combination of genius. He has the burning intensity of Marlon Brando, the tragic realism of Montgomery Cliff, the virtuosic slickness of John Travolta, the sly wit of Gene Wilder.”
Greta Gerwig said: “He doesn’t create a distance between himself and his characters. He never winks at the audience to tell them that he, Ryan Gosling, is apart from them. He allows it all to exist within him, and he never hedges.”
Greta Gerwig said (of Ryan and Kirk): “They commit to characters in all their beauty and their ugliness. Because they are actors and people who believe that redemption is possible. It is a philosophical position illustrated through acting.”
Greta Gerwig said: “There’s a thing in poker where to keep playing, everyone has to put in more chips. And that’s what it’s like working with Ryan Gosling. If you want to keep playing, you need to ante up.”
Greta Gerwig said: “From the moment we started talking, he just understood. … There would be no Barbie if he hadn’t come to be our Ken.”
“It was a commitment beyond anything I could have dreamed.”
Greta Gerwig said: “As time went on, I realized didn’t need to caveat anything. He knew it was important.”
“With his total commitment to Barbie, he’s saying this is important. He’s cosigning this importance by his commitment and his presence and his art.”
Greta Gerwig said: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been quite as happy as when I’ve seen him act.”
Greta Gerwig said: “That’s just my whole soul on display in the guise of a male actor playing a doll.”
Greta Gerwig said: “As bananas as it sounds, I feel more than a little bit saved by Ryan’s acting.”
Greta Gerwig said: “I could not think of a more perfect person to present to Ryan than Kirk Douglas - genius to genius.”
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Ryan Gosling said: “I was not emotionally prepared for tonight.”
Ryan Gosling said: “If I knew that Steve and Greta were going to be this great - charming, smart, gracious, funny - I would have suggested that I open and they close - so we can end on a high note.”
Ryan Gosling joked: “It’s hard to feel deserving of all this, but I remind myself that the proceeds go to a wonderful cause, so it doesn't really matter if I deserve it or not.”
Ryan Gosling said, speaking to Kirk Douglas’ legacy: “He is completely and utterly in a class of his own… and I’m just Ken?”
Speaking to his early career, Ryan Gosling said: “By playing other people, I was learning who I was in the process.”
On his presenters, Ryan Gosling said: “I can’t think of two more gracious and talented people.”
On Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling said: “He was so damn funny that the boom operator dropped the boom to hold his ribs. That’s how hard he was laughing. It’s the first time I've seen someone be so good it was a problem.”
On Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling said: “I don’t even know where to start with Greta. Even though she was making one of the biggest films of all time, she never let the weight of the task get in the way of what was important.”
Ryan Gosling said: “But most importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children. I dreamed of making movies and now movies have made my life a dream.”
Ryan Gosling said: “No way I have contributed half as much to cinema as cinema has given to me.”
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About The Event:
Tonight, The Santa Barbara International Film Festival honored Ryan Gosling as he received the 16th annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence in Film. Gosling’s incredible range as a performer can currently be seen in last year’s critically acclaimed cinematic standout, BARBIE. The prestigious award, which benefits Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s year-round educational programs, was presented on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at a Black-Tie dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. This marks the second time since the passing of screen legend Kirk Douglas that the honor will be awarded.
“Ryan Gosling has long been both a dramatic and comedic force in front of the camera. This year, thanks to his universally hailed, triumphant performance as Ken in BARBIE – a film that truly demanded the attention of critics and moviegoers around the world – he has become a true cinematic powerhouse,” stated Executive Director, Roger Durling.
Seen as one of the most exciting actors of this generation, Gosling is a two-time Academy Award nominee for his work in “Half Nelson” and “La La Land,” and a four-time Golden Globe nominee and one-time winner for his role as Sebastian in “La La Land.” Over the course of his decades-spanning career, Gosling has additionally garnered numerous accolades, including winning a Film Independent Spirit Award, a National Board of Review Award and more, as well as nominations from BAFTA and the Screen Actors Guild. He has received recognition from numerous prestigious critics’ associations and prominent film festivals worldwide, from Cannes to Palm Springs to Sundance, and has previously been recognized by SBIFF as Outstanding Performer of the Year in 2017 for his performance in “La La Land,” and the Cinema Vanguard Award in 2008 for his work in “Lars and the Real Girl.” Amongst other titles, Gosling’s diverse filmography includes acclaimed films such as Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive,” Glenn Ficarra & John Requa’s “Crazy, Stupid, Love.,” Adam McKay’s “The Big Short” and Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049.” He will next be seen in “The Fall Guy,” starring opposite Emily Blunt and directed by David Leitch.
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 are 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 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place LIVE February 7 - February 17, 2024. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout the city, including at the historic Arlington Theatre. Passes for the 2024 Festival are on sale now at sbiff.org.
Last year, the festival had 52 world premieres, 78 U.S. premieres, with honorary awards feted on Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Austin Butler, Kerry Cordon, Danielle Deadwyler, Nina Hoss, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Todd Field and Martin McDonagh.
A-list and industry guests will once again ascend to Santa Barbara, making it a must-stop location on the awards circuit, and delivering a record number of films with many World and U.S. premieres. The film lineup and schedule will be announced January 16, 2024.
About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 37 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community throughout many free educational programs and events. In 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre. After a capital campaign and renovation, the theatre is now SBIFF’s new state-of-the-art, year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In 2019, SBIFF opened its own Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a place for creativity and learning.
14.01.2024 | Santa Barbara's blog
Cat. : PEOPLE