*Denzel Washington has been chosen for the coveted Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, organizers announced Wednesday.
The Oscar winner for both 1989’s “Glory” and 2001’s “Training Day,” who is back in the contention this year as the director and star of “Fences,” will be honored Feb. 2 at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre as part of the festival’s 32nd edition, running Feb. 1-11.
SBIFF’s Modern Master Award, the festival’s highest honor, was established in 1995 to salute “an individual who has enriched our culture through his/her multifaceted accomplishments in the motion picture industry.” In 2015, it was renamed after film critic Leonard Maltin, who has moderated its presentation since its inception.
Previous recipients include Johnny Depp, Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Michael Douglas, Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Diane Keaton, Sean Penn, Jeff Bridges, Peter Jackson, George Clooney, Will Smith, Cate Blanchett, Clint Eastwood, Christopher Plummer and James Cameron.
“Denzel Washington directing, producing and acting in Fences defines ‘Modern Master’ for the 21st century,” said SBIFF director Roger Durling in a statement.
The fest will announce other honorees in the coming days and weeks, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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