Oprah Winfrey will receive the Montecito Award at the 29th Santa Barbara International Film Festival for her performance in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” the festival announced on Tuesday.
The tribute, which recognized “Lincoln” star and three-time Best Actor Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis during the last award season, will take place on Feb. 5 at the historic Arlington Theatre in the coastal town north of Los Angeles.
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The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances throughout his or her career and whose style has been a contribution to film.
Annette Bening was the first recipient of the award in 2005, with Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem and Naomi Watts being honored in more recent years.
“Ms. Winfrey, the actress, inhabits Gloria Gaines with such gusto – she makes you forget Oprah the impresario,” SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said in a statement. “Her performance is career-defining and reason to rejoice.”
The festival begins on Jan. 30 and runs through Feb. 9.