8:00PM - Arlington Theatre, Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is honored to announce that two cinema icons, Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce, will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Spotlighting their riveting performances in Brady Corbet’s THE BRUTALIST, Brody’s portrayal of Toth highlights an immigrant’s struggle to overcome his war-torn past and rebuild his life in a Post-War America. Pearce, in contrast, delivers a chilling, domineering performance as a wealthy art patron whose vision of American modernity collides with Toth’s. The tension between the two not only drives the narrative but also symbolizes the larger struggle between innovation and tradition. Both Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce will receive the prestigious award on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

“Both Adrien and Guy have had lengthy, rewarding and uncompromising careers - and in this year’s THE BRUTALIST - they each give us their best work to date,” remarked SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling.