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John Malkovich to receive Santa Barbara festival performer award
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
John Malkovich will receive the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at its 42nd edition, running from 3–13 February 2027. The honour recognises his acclaimed performance in Martin McDonagh’s upcoming black comedy *Wild Horse Nine*, continuing the festival’s role in highlighting prominent awards contenders.
Malkovich, a two-time Oscar nominee, won Best Actor at this year’s Venice Film Festival for the film. He stars with Sam Rockwell as CIA agents travelling from Santiago to Easter Island on the eve of Chile’s 1973 coup, where they confront their pasts and become entangled in present-day conspiracies; Searchlight Pictures will release the film in cinemas on 6 November. SBIFF executive director Roger Durling praised Malkovich’s performance for combining pathos, volatility, vulnerability and tenderness.
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In short
- John Malkovich will receive SBIFF’s Performer of the Year Award.
- He won Venice’s Best Actor prize for *Wild Horse Nine*.
- The film reaches cinemas on 6 November.
How this story developed
- 2 months ago The selection adds to intensifying awards recognition for Malkovich's performance in *Wild Horse Nine*.
- 2 months ago The festival's award has become a significant marker on the awards circuit, with its previous recipient Michael B. Jordan having subsequently won the Best Actor Oscar.
- 2 months ago John Malkovich will receive the Santa Barbara Film Festival's Outstanding Performer of the Year Award for his Venice-winning performance in Martin McDonagh's black comedy *Wild Horse Nine*, where he co-stars with Sam Rockwell as a CIA agent.
Explained simply
John Malkovich is an acclaimed American actor who has received two nominations for the Academy Award, and is known for playing complex, often unsettling characters in films directed by major filmmakers. He has built a career spanning several decades in cinema and television.
"Wild Horse Nine" is a new film directed by Martin McDonagh, known for dark comedies with serious underlying themes. It follows two CIA operatives played by Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as they journey from Santiago to Easter Island on the eve of Chile's 1973 military coup. The pair face both personal demons and contemporary political conspiracies during their travels.
Malkovich's role has already attracted awards attention, winning Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival this year. The Santa Barbara Film Festival's award carries particular weight because its recipient from last year, Michael B. Jordan, subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Actor, indicating that the festival often recognises performers who achieve greater honours.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Santa Barbara Film Festival Awards: ‘Wild Horse Nine’ Star John Malkovich To Get Performer Of The Year Honor”.