Fans flock to see Benedict Cumberbatch honored at SBIFF
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Fans cheered when Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter stepped out of a black car in front of the Arlington Theatre on Wednesday night.
The actor took a look at his name in lights and shared his thoughts about Santa Barbara.
"Santa Barbara is amazing, it is tranquil, it is familial and it's walkable, which is lovely. There is a sort of unified architecture about the place that is sort of timeless and classic, and the weather is beautiful, and people are friendly, "said Cumberbatch.
The 37th Santa Barbara International Film Festival chose to honor him for his extensive body of work that includes everything from small feature films to blockbusters.
Some fans know him from Sherlock, The Imitation Game, and 12 Years A Slave, others know him from Doctor Strange, Avenger, Spider Man and so much more.
In 2015, he was nominated for Imitation Game. Many critics think this could be his winning year.
Cumberatch, 45, is nominated for his leading role in "The Power of The Dog," a film that is up for a dozen Academy Awards.
"It is a very very beautiful, extraordinary, tense, thrilling story and the adaptation of one of the great American classics I feel, " said Cumberbath on the red carpet.
Director Jane Campion, who received her second Best Director nomination for the film, came to present the award.
The Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay for "The Piano" described how she watched Cumberbatch become his character.
"Watching him create this character, that I never could believe you could feel the tenderness in such a terrible man, you know, so I am really interested in how he, how he brought this to this character, I mean that is the talent of an extraordinary actor, " said Campion.
During the ceremony Cumberbatch commented on how Paul Newman had optioned the story in the 1960s. He said he felt humbled to be part of the production.
Without giving the story away, too much, he said it is based on a true story and a man who struggled with his sexuality at a time of intolerance.
The father of 3 sons said it is important to teach men to be feminists in order to prevent toxic masculinity that is being shown by some world leaders today.
During the tribute he also held a Ukraine flag given to him by a fan.
Outside the theatre one fan was overjoyed to have his signature on artwork depicting the characters in Sherlock.
Carol Jaimes said "We asked Jane Campion to ask Benedict to sign this and so Jane came over and took it to him and he did sign it."
Jaimes plans to frame it and put it up on her wall.
Thursday night, the red carpet will be rolled out for the Maltin Modern Master Award. It will be presented to Oscar winners and nominees Javier Bardem in-person and Nicole Kidman virtually due to a hamstring injury.
Festival fans may watch Bardem's arrival outside the Arlington Theatre on State Street around 7p.m.
They may also buy tickets to watch the tribute in-person or virtually by checking with the Arlington Box Office or online at SBIFF.org.
There are a number of free screenings and panel discussions before the festival wraps up on March 12th.
