Andrew Garfield to Receive Top Honor at Santa Barbara Film Fest

WHO:

Deadline - Andrew Garfield, a two-time Oscar-nominated actor, will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award.

Variety - Garfield will join film critic Leonard Maltin for an on-stage conversation.

Variety - The articles identify Luca Guadagnino as the director of *Artificial* and Sam Altman as the person Garfield portrays.

Deadline - Garfield is described as portraying OpenAI guru Sam Altman.

WHAT:

Deadline - The Santa Barbara Film Festival announced that Garfield will receive its Maltin Modern Master Award.

Variety - Garfield is set to receive the Maltin Modern Master Award and discuss his decades-long career.

Variety - Garfield’s upcoming performance in *Artificial* is among the topics of the conversation; he plays OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Deadline - Garfield’s portrayal of Sam Altman received “rave reviews.”

WHERE:

Deadline - The award will be presented at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Variety - The honor and on-stage conversation are part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

WHEN:

Deadline - The festival’s 2027 edition is when Garfield is to receive the award.

Variety - The award presentation is scheduled for Feb. 6.

WHY:

Deadline - The article says the honor comes as Garfield heads into a busy awards season after receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Sam Altman.

HOW:

Variety - Garfield will reflect on his career in an on-stage conversation with Leonard Maltin.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 00:35 UTC)

Andrew Garfield will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 2027 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, following rave reviews for his portrayal of Sam Altman. The two-time Oscar-nominated actor will join film critic Leonard Maltin for an on-stage conversation about his decades-long career. They’re also expected to discuss *Artificial*, directed by Luca Guadagnino, in which Garfield plays OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.