Dafoe lands Cinema Vanguard by Santa Barbara Film Festival

Actor William Dafoe will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the 2018 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The honour will be presented at Santa Barbara's historic Arlington Theatre, following a career-retrospective conversation, on February 1 as part of the fest's 33rd edition, which is set to run from January 31 to February 10, reported Variety.
The Cinema Vanguard Award recognises filmmakers "who have forged their own path, taking artists risks and making a significant and unique contribution to film."
"Willem Dafoe has brought countless unforgettable characters to the big screen. His role in 'The Florida Project' perfectly embodies his talent and imagination. It is an honour to celebrate his work with the Cinema Vanguard Award," SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said in a statement.

Previous Vanguard Award honorees include "Manchester by the Sea's" Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara ("Carol), Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything"), Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Wolf of Wall Street"), "The Master's" Amy Adams, "The Artist's" Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole"), Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" and "Up in the Air's" Vera Farmiga (2010).
The festival is also set to honour Judi Dench, a best actress contender for "Victoria & Abdul", with its Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at a pre-fest ceremony on November 30.