The 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival concluded last Sunday, but the event's spotlight shone brightly three days prior during the filmmaker tributes.
Inside the historic Arlington Theatre on Thursday evening, Jeffrey Wright, a seasoned stage and screen actor, was honored with the Montecito Award. This prestigious accolade followed a captivating career-retrospective conversation between Wright and SBIFF executive director Roger Durling, who is a devoted admirer of Wright's work.
During the discussion, Wright, 58, shared insights into his upbringing by his mother and aunt. Surprisingly, he had never considered acting until his college years at Amherst College. It was there that he discovered his passion for the craft, leading him to forego law school in favor of a full scholarship at NYU Tisch.
Wright's breakthrough role came with "Angels in America" on Broadway, portraying Belize, a gay nurse, a part that he found particularly meaningful given his background in political science. Notably, it was on the same day he left "Angels" that he landed the role of Jean-Michel Basquiat in the film "Basquiat," directed by Julian Schnabel.
Despite intentionally reducing his workload over the past two decades, Wright has delivered memorable performances in major film franchises such as James Bond and "The Hunger Games," as well as acclaimed HBO series like "Boardwalk Empire" and "Westworld."
Concluding the evening, John Ortiz, Wright's co-star in "American Fiction," described him as his "artistic brother," highlighting their deep connection. The festival recognized Wright's outstanding contributions to film and theater with a statuette, marking his remarkable impact on the industry.
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