The Santa Barbara International Film Festival gave Cynthia Erivo the 18th Annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film on December 4, 2025, at a black-tie gala at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. The event honored her deep contributions to film, and Michael Douglas praised her depth, versatility, and fearless artistry as a reflection of his father’s legacy. The money raised at the gala goes to the festival’s educational programs that run all year.
Erivo, who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony and been nominated for three Oscars, became famous for her role as Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway. She then moved on to movies. She played Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked, which broke box office records as the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation and earned her a second Best Actress Oscar nomination. Ariana Grande played Glinda. She plays the same character again in the sequel Wicked: For Good, which comes out on November 21. She is also the lead and executive producer of the movie version of Prima Facie.
Erivo talked about her rising career during her speech. She said that awards like this usually mark the end of a career, but she feels like she’s only halfway through hers, which got a lot of applause from the audience. She said, “I love my job,” which showed how much she cares about her work and her commitment to telling bold stories. The moment showed how humble she was even when her peers and industry leaders praised her.
This is the fourth presentation since Kirk Douglas died, and it highlights bold creativity and a lasting impact on film. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place from February 4 to 14, 2026, and will give out other awards, such as the Virtuosos Award.
