Timothée Chalamet Receives Arlington Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Timothée Chalamet was honored with the prestigious Arlington Award at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on Tuesday night, in a ceremony filled with heartfelt tributes, humor, and reflections on his acclaimed career.
Josh Brolin, Chalamet’s Dune co-star, moderated the event and highlighted the young actor’s meteoric rise, calling him “an anomalous actor” who has already delivered performances that feel “historical.” He compared Chalamet’s body of work to Hollywood legends such as Meryl Streep, James Dean, and Leonardo DiCaprio, emphasizing how rare it is for an actor to make such a lasting impact at a young age.
The evening featured a montage of Chalamet’s most defining roles, with clips from Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy, Little Women, Dune, Wonka, and A Complete Unknown, in which he portrays Bob Dylan.
Chalamet Reflects on His Career
During his conversation with Brolin, Chalamet reflected on the role that earned him his first Academy Award nomination—Call Me by Your Name. He described the experience as emotionally transformative, explaining that the film took a deep toll on him.
Chalamet also spoke about Beautiful Boy, in which he played a young man struggling with addiction. “That was a jarring experience,” he admitted, recalling the intense preparation required to bring authenticity to the role. “I wanted to do it justice because so many people are going through that struggle.”
Discussing Dune: Part Two, Chalamet described filming a pivotal scene in which his character, Paul Atreides, speaks to Emperor Shaddam IV, played by Christopher Walken. “That scene we watched—I’m deeply proud of,” he said. “I felt like I finally had the meat to chew on, the opportunity to bring it all home.” He credited director Denis Villeneuve for crafting a film that functions both as an epic sci-fi adventure and a deeply personal story.
Dune: Part Two is nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Transforming Into Bob Dylan
Chalamet is also nominated for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, which has received a total of eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
“It’s a dream come true,” Chalamet said. “Bob Dylan is an artist I’m an enormous fan of, so it feels great to be here. I was here seven years ago, and it feels good to be back in this context.”
Director James Mangold praised Chalamet’s dedication, calling his portrayal of Dylan a “miraculous transformation.” He revealed that Chalamet spent more than five years preparing for the role, learning to play the guitar and embodying Dylan’s essence through a process he described as “osmosis.”
“This was an absolute blessing, start to finish,” Chalamet said. “I feel like I’ve gotten to be a bridge to one of the great thinkers of all time.”
A Standing Ovation
As the evening concluded, Mangold presented Chalamet with the Arlington Award in recognition of his contributions to cinema. The audience erupted in applause as Chalamet took the stage to accept the honor.
“I seek to leave behind a body of work that can inspire someone else one day,” he said. “Thank you for this incredible honor.”
With his Best Actor nomination and A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two both up for Best Picture, Chalamet is poised for a potentially historic night at the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2.
