‘Being The Ricardos’ Stars Javier Bardem And Nicole Kidman To Receive Maltin Master Award At Santa Barbara Film Festival

EXCLUSIVE: The Santa Barbara Film Festival will be getting a touch of Lucy and Desi by way of honoring another pair of major stars.

Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman will be honored with the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the 37th annual edition of the fest on Thursday, March 10 when they will engage with veteran film historian and critic Leonard Maltin for an in-person conversation about their careers leading up to this year's performances as Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin's Being the Ricardos from Amazon Studios. They both recently received individual Lead Actor SAG Award nominations. Bardem and Kidman, who have never before worked together, previously won Oscars for No Country for Old Men (2007) and The Hours (2002), respectively. Each have a long career of acclaimed performances.

"Nicole Kidman continues to challenge and reinvent herself year after year. Javier Bardem's talent is a gift to the world. Only in Hollywood could these actors find themselves playing America's all time favorite TV couple. It's cause for celebration," Maltin said.

The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of longtime SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin. Past recipients include Bill Murray, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson. This is the first time a pair of actors will be honored together.

Other Santa Barbara tributes previously announced include Benedict Cumberbatch with the Vanguard Award, King Richard stars Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis for Outstanding Performers of the Year, Kristen Stewart for the American Riviera Award, and collectively named for Virtuoso Awards are West Side Story's Ariana DeBose, CODA actors Emilia Jones and Troy Kotsur, Red Rocket's Simon Rex, Licorice Pizza's Alana Haim, and Saniyya Sidney from King Richard .

The 37th Santa Barbara Film Festival is set to take place in-person March 2-12. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels and celebrity tributes will be held throughout the city including at the historic Arlington Theatre.