40TH ANNUAL SBIFF VIRTUOSOS AWARDS

Virtuosos Awards Celebrate Rising Stars at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The 40th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) honoured a remarkable group of performers at the Virtuosos Awards on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. Hosted by Dave Karger (Turner Classic Movies) and presented by Jane Lynch, the evening celebrated actors who delivered standout performances over the past year. SBIFF has so far been a great success

This year’s honorees included:

• Ariana Grande (Wicked)
• Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
• Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
• John Magaro (September 5)
• Mikey Madison (Anora)
• Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
• Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
• Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez)

Throughout the night, the honorees reflected on their transformative roles and the impact of their performances.

Ariana Grande on Becoming Glinda in Wicked

Grande described playing Glinda as “the dream of my life” and expressed deep gratitude for the recognition. She highlighted the depth of her character, noting, “It’s such a gift to be able to play a character with so much nuance.”Teasing the highly anticipated Wicked sequel, she revealed, “It’s very special, very emotional… It really embodies unconditional love, forgiveness, and friendship.”

Clarence Maclin’s Emotional Journey in Sing Sing

Maclin, who drew from personal experience for his role, shared the apprehension he felt returning to a prison setting: “It was a lot of apprehension about going back to a place I clawed myself out of… But the message—that people in prison are just people, and they can change—was more important.”

Fernanda Torres on Women in Film

Torres celebrated the year’s strong female-led performances, stating, “This is such a special year for women in cinema… There should be 10 nominations to be fair for all of us.” She also reflected on working with her mother in I’m Still Here, saying, “I was not the first pick… I was so moved, and then I started to work hard because I didn’t want to lose the character.”

John Magaro on Film as Time Travel

Discussing September 5, Magaro shared his fascination with history, saying, “The idea that film can transport us back in time and show us a moment in history that changed everything is really intriguing to me.”

Mikey Madison’s Unique Casting in Anora

Madison recalled how director Sean Baker offered her the role without an audition: “He saw a horror film I did opening weekend and remembered me from a small part in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” She described making Anoraas “very special and transformative.”

Monica Barbaro on Playing Joan Baez

Barbaro discussed her approach to portraying the iconic musician in A Complete Unknown, explaining, “Everyone talks about her vibrato… and at that time in performance style, she was quite still. If I could get close to those things, I could portray her as someone recognizable.”

Sebastian Stan on The Apprentice

Stan detailed his preparation for playing a historical figure, saying, “It was like learning a new instrument… Everything had a purpose.” He also spoke about the unpredictability of the filming process: “As an actor, you dream of those moments where you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Selena Gomez on Emilia Pérez and Her Career Shift

Gomez reflected on her experience with the musical crime drama, saying, “I’d do this movie over and over again if I could.” She also hinted at a shift in focus, stating, “I think I’m ready to just focus on film and art making… It’ll be hard for me to go back to music after this.”

The Virtuosos Awards once again highlighted the rising stars of cinema, offering a glimpse into the dedication, passion, and artistry behind some of the year’s most compelling performances.

FERNTV says that this year’s Oscars race is gearing up to be something special.