Styles & Scenes

Santa Barbara gets awards happy

Last year the Santa Barbara International Film Festival was the best place to see Oscar nominees such as George Clooney, Heath Ledger and his "Brokeback Mountain" costar/real-life love Michelle Williams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and scads of other hot Oscar-nodded writers, producers and directors.

Will next year be as star-studded? You betcha.

"The pressure is really on now after last year,” admitted Roger Durling, SBIFF executive director, at the Fest's Inaugural Award for Excellence in Film given on Sunday to Kirk Douglas at a glitzy black tie gala fundraiser held at the Bacara Resort.

Durling will make picks based on films and performances he sees at Toronto and Telluride film festivals. So has he seen anything he likes so far? “I have but it’s just too early to talk about it.”

But by December, Durling will be talking and making his picks for the various SBIFF honors (Modern Master, Riviera, Breakthrough Performance, Montecito and Attenborough Awards) that will probably be bestowed on some 2007 Oscar nominees. “We’re announcing a month before the Oscars and we open the festival the week after nominations are announced,” Durling explains. “Last year, the nominations were out on a Tuesday and the following Friday, George Clooney was up here accepting his Modern Master Award.”

But enough about Oscars. Durling is also excited about the possibilities his new summertime Awards Gala will open up...

Photo Credits: George Clooney talks about life, passion and movies, at his Modern Master Award at the 2006 SBIFF
WireImage

Heath Ledger loosens up at SBIFF

Heath Ledger was unquestionably and embarrassingly nervous at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards.

But he appeared to be much more at ease at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Imperia Breakthrough Performance of the Year Award Wednesday evening.

Not that he's ever going to be a big-time public speaker, as he himself freely admits.

But the adorably fidgety Oscar nominee did seem to be enjoying his onstage chat with Pete Hammond at the Lobero Theatre.

Ledger explained about his "Brokeback Mountain" character, Ennis Del Mar, "Any form of expression had to be painful...clinched. For him, the sounds of life were too loud, the light of day too bright."

On the love scenes between he and Jake Gyllenhaal, Ledger joked, "We actually used stunt doubles."

There’s that Aussie sense of humor we love. I think Heath's ready to take this act on the road!

Photo: Heath Ledger gets used to the Oscar attention at the SBIFF Breakthrough of the Year Awards.
(Rebecca Sapp / WireImage)

Watts lights up Santa Barbara film fest

Santa Barbara International Film Festival director Roger Durling worships Naomi Watts.

Durling invited the Aussie actress to his February fest, convinced she'd get an Oscar nod for her role in Peter Jackson’s epic romance. She didn't. But that didn't stop her from coming making good on her agreement come to SBIFF. And it didn't stop Durling from honoring Watts with a Montecito Award on Saturday at the Marjorie Luke Theatre.

From the podium, Durling listed his favorite classic film performances: “Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca.” Humphrey Bogart in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” John Wayne in “The Searchers.” Jimmy Stewart in “Vertigo.” Gene Kelly in “Singing in the Rain.” Orson Welles in “Touch of Evil.” Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like it Hot.” Cary Grant in “North by Northwest.” Robert Redford in “Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.” Anthony Perkins in Psycho.” Paul Giamatti in “Sideways.”

Then he added Naomi Watts in "King Kong" to his list. “What all 13 performances have in common is that they were all snubbed by Oscar. I thought it [not being nominated] was a horrible disservice to this brilliant actress. Naomi, your performance in 'King Kong' was the best performance by an actress this year!” he said, as the audience roared and applauded in agreement.

Photo: "King Kong" heroine Naomi Watts shines on the red carpet at the SBIFF Montecito Award presentation, even without a silly Oscar nomination.
(Chris Weeks / WireImage)