Anne Hathaway to Receive Santa Barbara Film Festival Award

Published November 11, 2026. Hathaway will be honored during the 42nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs February 3-13 in the coastal California city. The February 5 event will include an in-person tribute and conversation focused on her career and her role as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

Festival executive director Roger Durling praised Hathaway’s range and dedication, describing her work in the film as emotionally complex and among the strongest performances of her career. The award recognizes actors for significant contributions to American cinema. Past honorees have included Kristen Stewart, Brendan Fraser, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana and Ethan Hawke.

Hathaway had roles this year in Verity, Mother Mary, The End of Oak Street and The Devil Wears Prada 2. Her announced future slate features The Princess Diaries 3, in which she will return as Mia Thermopolis; Days of Thunder 2 with Tom Cruise; and Ron Howard’s Alone at Dawn. Festival events are also scheduled to include screenings, filmmaker discussions, industry panels and tributes to other performers.