Isabelle
Huppert Celebrates Award at
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
So
many film lovers were delighted to hear the news that renowned
French film star Isabelle Huppert would join the list of prestigious
celebrities being honored at the 32nd Santa Barbara International
Festival. Isabelle was born in Paris France, is the mother of
three, and has been married to Ronald Chammah since 1982. "She's
one of the greatest actors ever, and her legacy to cinema is
unparalleled," stated SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.
"Any film that includes Ms. Huppert is without a doubt
immediately worth watching. She elevates any work - she's elevated
cinema. It's overdue to celebrate this giant."
Dom Perignon Champagne 3rd Year SBIFF Sponsor
Dom
Pérignon was delighted to return for a third year as
the Official Champagne of the Santa Barbara International Film
Festival; a partnership that celebrates exceptional talent,
innovation, freedom of expression and the power of creation
in the world of film. It seem right that a renowned French Champagne
Dom Pérignon celebrated Isabelle Huppert, and all the
honorees in their luxurious, custom designed Dom Pérignon
Lounge at The Arlington Theater.
Huppert
is the most nominated actress for the César
Award, with 16 nominations. Huppert was made Chevalier
of the Ordre
national du Mérite in 1994 and was promoted
to Officier in 2005. She was made a Chevalier of the Legion
of Honour in 1999 and was promoted to Officer in
2009. Among international film's most prolific actresses, Huppert
has worked in Italy, Russia, Central Europe, and on the Asian
continent. Her English-language films include: Heaven's
Gate (1980), I
Heart Huckabees (2004), The
Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2013), and Louder
Than Bombs (2015). In addition to her extensive work
in film, Huppert has received international acclaim for her
stage career. Starting with her work in A Month in the Country,
she has been nominated for six Molière Awards, including
for her role in this year's Phaedra.
Isabelle Huppert Montecito Award Acceptance Speech at the Podium
Legendary
actress Isabelle Huppert accepted the Montecito Award with style,
grace and brilliance. The acclaimed actress stunned everyone
as she arrived in a designer gown of turquoise and peach by
Gucci, with the word "Loved" sewn in sparkling white
beads on the bodice. The exquisite gown was truly a show stopper
on the carpet and on stage.
Although
Huppert has starred in over 100 films, it was her performance
in Paul Verhoeven's thriller Elle that enamored audiences and
made her the dark-horse of Oscar Awards Season 2017. Critic
Anne Thompson did an outstanding job as moderator during a two-hour
conversation with Huppert, detailing her career that spans from
1975 Rosebud to 2004 I Heart Huckabees. Her articulate and charming
description of working her craft through the years with many
great directors was fascinating and educational, and she shared
she has no fear of any role: "I like to do both. I was
never really obsessed with doing dramas over comedies because
in comedy you can find drama, and in drama you can find comedy."
Regarding
her latest role in Elle, Huppert noted that she is drawn to
roles that give a realistic portrayal of women: "These
films show women the way they are, not the way they should be."
SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling Making Introductions
The
evening concluded with a heartfelt speech from presenter William
Hurt, who paid homage to his performance with Huppert in 2014's
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. "It's an honor to deliver
this award to an artist of such greatness, who has such strength,
endurance, beauty divinity and fearlessness."
Huppert
shared how pleased she was that she had accepted Roger Durling's
invitation to come to accept the Montecito Award, was embraced
by William Hurt, and said " thank you for making me so
happy, receiving this award has made me so very happy!"
Past
recipients of the SBIFF Montecito Award include Sylvester Stallone,
Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey
Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Bill Condon,
and Naomi Watts.
Dom
Pérignon
Dom Pierre
Pérignon was the procurator of the Abbey of Hautvillers
in Champagne from 1668 to 1715. His life's work was guided by
the single aim to create what he named: the "best wine
in the world". Today, each new vintage of Dom Pérignon
is inspired by the same quest. For every vintage is a new beginning,
a reinvention. Always a vintage wine, the Dom Pérignon
commitment to vintages is absolute: Dom Pérignon is made
from only the best grapes and is declared only in the most exceptional
years, from a single year's harvest only. Each Vintage has three
Plénitudes, and is a true act of creation that is constantly
renewed by Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy. www.domperignon.com.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering
and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema.
SBIFF offers 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums
that transforms beautiful downtown Santa Barbara, CA into a
rich destination for film lovers which attracts more than 90,000
attendees. SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the
community through free programs like its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking
and Screenwriting Competitions, Mike's Field Trip to the Movies,
National Film Studies Program, AppleBox Family Films, 3rd Weekend
and educational seminars. In recent years SBIFF has expanded
its year round presence with regular screenings and Q&As
with programs like Cinema Society, The Showcase and its Wave
Film Festivals.
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.