Oprah to be honoured at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Oprah Winfrey is to be saluted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California next year (Feb14) for her work in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. The multi-media mogul, who played Forest Whitaker’s wife in the drama, has been named the recipient of the 2014 Montecito Award.
Coincidentally, the 59 year old lives in Montecito, a coastal town that is part of Santa Barbara County.
She will be feted at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara on 5 February (14).
Oprah is also among the favourites to land an Oscar nomination for her role in the film. She received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her big screen debut in The Color Purple 28 years ago and was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award two years ago.
Meanwhile, Whitaker will also be honoured at the SBIFF – he will be next year’s recipient of the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. Cate Blanchet will also pick up a top prize, the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award, for her role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine.