It’s not news that the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a key stop on the awards trail. Every year, Executive Director Roger Durling pulls a starry lineup and Oscar wranglers make sure their clients make the most of the 2,000-seat Arlington Theatre red carpet tributes and panels.
The new trend? Multiple presenters, and thus even bigger star power. Bradley Cooper had both costar Carey Mulligan and friend Brad Pitt pay him tribute last Thursday, while on Friday Robert Downey Jr. drew both his old school chum Rob Lowe and “Oppenheimer” costar Cillian Murphy.
Saturday brought the producer and International panels along with the annual Virtuosos show hosted by TCM’s Dave Karger, who hawked his glossy new Oscar book published by TCM, “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins,” including Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Hudson, Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, and more. And Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) flirted charmingly with both Karger, her favorite TCM host, who she said she watches every night in bed.