The press release, in part:
It was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling, that Mickey Rourke, star of the upcoming “The Wrestler,” will be honored with the American Riviera Award on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
“America is all about second chances,” commented Durling, “and so it’s appropriate that the American Riviera Award that always goes to a U.S. actor should be given this year to Mickey Rourke – who has shown us with his performance in ‘The Wrestler’ to never underestimate a true artist and his power to reinvent himself.”
Check out my interview with Rourke here.