John Malkovich to Receive Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

John Malkovich will be honored with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine” at the 42nd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will take place Feb. 3-13.

The film recently screened at the Telluride, Toronto and Venice film festivals, the latter of which awarded Malkovich with the Best Actor award. Releasing in theaters Nov. 6, Malkovich stars alongside Sam Rockwell as two CIA agents traveling from Santiago to Easter Island the day before the 1973 Chilean coup.

“A legendary actor gives this year in ‘Wild Horse Nine’ his best performance to date in which he combines pathos, volatility, vulnerability and tenderness,” said Roger Durling, the executive director of SBIFF. “It’s a high wire act that shows us what a commanding artist he is and we are thrilled to be honoring him with our Outstanding Performer of the Year Award.”

Malkovich recently starred in “Sacrifice” alongside Salma Hayak and Anya Taylor-Joy and “In the Hand of Dante” with Oscar Isaac and Al Pacino. The actor, director and producer has also recently appeared in the Apple TV series “Bad Monkey” and is currently in production of the Amazon Prime thriller “Bishop.” He previously earned an Emmy Award for “Death of a Salesman” and received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in “Places in the Heart” and “In the Line of Fire.”

The Outstanding Performer of the Year award celebrates individuals who have given exceptional performances in film. Past recipients of the award include Michael B. Jordan, Ralph Fiennes, Bradley Cooper, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren and Heath Ledger.