Mulligan, Ronan, Sidibe and Stuhlbarg to receive Santa Barbara fest’s Virtuoso Award

I’ve been at a football game all day, so thank to Guy for keeping the news flowing through here.  Meanwhile, the latest SBIFF press release, in part:

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues its tradition of honoring the year’s standout performers by presenting The 2010 Chopin Virtuosos Award to Carey Mulligan, Saoirse Ronan, Gabourey Sidibe and Michael Stuhlbarg, it was announced today by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The Award presentation, sponsored by Chopin Vodka, will take place Sunday, February 7 at the Lobero Theatre at the 25th edition of the festival, which runs February 4-14, 2010.

The Virtuosos Award was created to recognize a select group of actors who have distinguished themselves through performances in film this past year. Last year’s recipients for this award were Viola Davis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Melissa Leo and Michael Shannon.

Comments Durling, “These four individuals not only gave us standout breakthrough performances, but they all carry their own individual films – and they all do it virtuosically. We salute their achievement.”