Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch will be honored with the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 37th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). He will receive the award on March 9, following an in-person conversation about his career leading up to this year’s performances in Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog” from Netflix.

“He’s an intelligent, enigmatic, and deeply committed artist who comfortably straddles a career in blockbusters and independent cinema where he works with visionary talent like Jane Campion. We’re ecstatically planning our celebration of Benedict Cumberbatch,” said Roger Durling, SBIFF executive director.

The Cinema Vanguard Award recognizes actors who have forged their own path, taking artistic risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film. Previous honorees include Carey Mulligan, Laura Dern, Michael B. Jordan, William Defoe, Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Jean Dujardin, Bernice Bejo, Nicole Kidman, Peter Sarsgaard, Christoph Waltz, Vera Farmiga, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci and Ryan Gosling.
 
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, presented by UGG, will take place live March 2 through March 12. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes, will be held throughout the city, including at the Arlington Theatre. This year’s lineup will be announced in February. For more information or to buy passes, visit sbiff.org.