Angelina Jolie to Receive Maltin Modern Master Award at 40th SBIFF

Angelina Jolie is set to receive the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the 40th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on February 5, 2025. This recognition highlights Jolie’s influential career both as an actress and a director. The award, originally known as the Modern Master Award, was established in 1995 to honor filmmakers with significant contributions to the movie industry and was renamed in 2015 to honor film critic Leonard Maltin.

Leonard Maltin praised Jolie, stating, “Angelina Jolie makes bold choices, both as an actress and as a director. She sets the bar high in both disciplines and always comes through. I look forward to reviewing her career with her in Santa Barbara.” Jolie’s illustrious career includes her Academy Award-winning performance in “Girl, Interrupted” and roles in popular films such as “Maleficent,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and “Changeling.”

Jolie’s recent work includes her portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s biopic “Maria,” which has been described as “imperious, mysterious, fusing the life force of a genius diva with the downbeat emotional fire of a femme fatale.”

Past recipients of the Maltin Modern Master Award include renowned figures such as Robert Downey Jr., Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, and Christopher Nolan, demonstrating the caliber of talent recognized by this honor.

The 40th SBIFF will run from February 4-15, 2025, featuring events such as screenings, filmmaker Q&As, celebrity tributes, and industry panels. These events will be held at various venues including the Rivera Theatre, the SBIFF Film Center, and the Arlington Theatre. Details on additional honorees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Passes for the SBIFF 2025 are available through the festival’s official website.