Santa Barbara Film Fest: ‘Artificial’ Star Andrew Garfield Tapped for Maltin Modern Master Award

English actor Andrew Garfield, though he is only 43, has already had a formidable career, with credits including The Social Network, Never Let Me Go, Silence, The Amazing Spider-Man, 99 Homes, Hacksaw Ridge, Tick… Tick… Boom! and Luca Guadagnino’s new film Artificial, in which he plays artificial intelligence pioneer Sam Altman.

Now, in recognition of his body of work, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has tapped Garfield to receive the Maltin Modern Master Award, the fest’s highest honor. The two-time Oscar nominee will be feted with an evening of clips and conversation — moderated by the award’s namesake, legendary film critic and historian Leonard Maltin — at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027.

SBIFF’s Modern Master Award was created in 1995 to honor “an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry.” It was re-named in 2015 to honor Maltin, who has moderated tributes at the fest for decades. Past recipients include Adam Sandler, Angelina Jolie, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Robert Downey Jr., Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood and Peter Jackson.

“Andrew Garfield has long since proven himself to critics and audiences alike,” Maltin said in a statement. “It’s no simple matter to balance a career between mainstream Hollywood movies and challenging director-driven projects, but he has done exactly that and done it well.”

The 42nd edition of SBIFF will take place Feb. 3-13, 2027. Previously announced honorees include John Malkovich (Wild Horse Nine).