The Santa Barbara Film Festival has announced the eight performers who will receive its 2027 Virtuosos Award. Revealed on Friday, October 30, the list includes Carrie Coon, Mariana di Girolamo, Rosalind Eleazar, Jordan Firstman, Anthony Ippolito, Jaafar Jackson, Inde Navarrette and Kate O’Flynn. All eight honourees will participate in an in-person event on Sunday, February 7, during the festival’s 42nd edition.
The Virtuosos Award recognises performers whose work has placed them at the centre of conversations surrounding the year’s most talked-about performances. Over the years, it has become an established stop on the awards-season calendar, recognising actors whose performances have attracted considerable attention and critical appreciation. Previous recipients include Jacob Elordi, Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Andrew Scott, Austin Butler, Kieran Culkin, Harris Dickinson, Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande.
Each of this year’s eight honourees is being recognised for a specific performance. Carrie Coon is being honoured for The Liberation, Mariana di Girolamo for Wild Horse Nine, Rosalind Eleazar for Misty Green, Jordan Firstman for Club Kid, Anthony Ippolito for I Play Rocky, Jaafar Jackson for Michael, Inde Navarrette for Obsession and Kate O’Flynn for Tender Loving Care.
Among the eight honourees, Inde Navarrette, Jaafar Jackson and Carrie Coon stand out for their recent performances and the attention surrounding their respective projects.
Navarrette emerged as one of the breakout performers of the year through Obsession, the A24 horror film directed by Curry Barker, which became one of the year’s biggest independent hits. Her performance has brought her wider industry recognition, adding to the momentum surrounding her career. She has also been cast as Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film, scheduled to open on May 5, 2028. Navarrette is also set to host Saturday Night Live on October 31, adding another notable milestone to an eventful year.
Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the late Michael Jackson, made his feature film debut portraying his uncle in Michael. The biographical film crossed $1 billion worldwide, becoming the first Lionsgate release to reach that milestone. Jackson’s performance in the film brought him considerable attention, marking a significant beginning to his acting career.
Carrie Coon is receiving recognition for her performance in The Liberation, directed by Guy Nattiv and inspired by real events from his grandmother’s life. Coon portrays Rita Cooper, a Holocaust survivor who leaves her family to join a cult led by a character played by Lily James. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4 and is scheduled to open in the United States on January 8, 2027, through Bleecker Street.
Deadline’s review of the film praised Coon’s performance, stating, “Coon will break your heart.” She stars alongside Bella Ramsey, Lily James, Odessa Young and her real-life husband, Tracy Letts.
Mariana di Girolamo is also among the performers attracting attention this awards season. She plays Monica in Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine, and Deadline critic Pete Hammond singled out her performance in his review from the Venice Film Festival.
Dave Karger, the Turner Classic Movies host who moderates events at the festival, described this year’s Virtuosos as “a powerhouse group from the most talked-about films of the season.” He also noted that it was particularly fitting that so many of the honourees were international performers, adding that he looked forward to welcoming them to Santa Barbara.
The Virtuosos Award recipients are not the only personalities being recognised at the 2027 festival. John Malkovich will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, while Andrew Garfield will be honoured with the Maltin Modern Master Award. Malkovich is also among the prominent names in the awards-season conversation for Wild Horse Nine, making the festival’s recognition of both him and di Girolamo particularly notable.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival takes place during the middle of the awards season, and its tributes frequently bring attention to performers generating momentum ahead of the Academy Awards. The previous edition of the festival screened more than 200 films, including 46 world premieres and 80 US premieres.
Being named a Virtuoso does not guarantee an Academy Award nomination. However, the recognition places performers among the year’s notable cinematic achievements and gives them additional visibility during a crucial period of the awards calendar. The festival has previously honoured several performers who went on to become major figures in subsequent awards-season conversations.
Navarrette and Jackson add to an already significant year through this recognition, while Coon and the other honourees strengthen a line-up representing performers from a diverse range of films and international backgrounds. The February 7 event will bring all eight performers together to celebrate their work as part of the festival’s 42nd edition.
