Posted on Fri, Dec. 09, 2005

Watts, Hoffman, Ledger to be honored at Santa Barbara festival
Associated Press


SANTA BARBARA - Next year's Santa Barbara film festival will honor "Titanic" director James Cameron and stars of some of this year's most celebrated films.

"King Kong" star Naomi Watts, "Capote" star Philip Seymour Hoffman and "Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger will be honored alongside George Clooney, previously announced as the recipient of the Modern Master Award.

"What I really like about this group of people is the range of talent and achievement," said Roger Durling, director of the 2006 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. "Serving different audiences is what the festival is all about."

Once Watts' participation was confirmed, Wednesday, Durling was so "stoked" he couldn't sleep, he said.

"I'm working on adrenaline today," he said Thursday.

The 21st annual festival will take place Feb. 2 through 12.

Hoffman will receive the Riviera Award, which recognizes an actor "who has done outstanding work for many years," Durling said. Watts will receive the Montecito Award in recognition of several standout performances, and Ledger will receive the Breakthrough Performance of the Year for "Brokeback Mountain."

Cameron will receive the Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking. Though best known for "Titanic" and "The Terminator," Cameron has worked recently on making films about the ocean floor, including "Mysteries of the Titanic" and the recent "Aliens of the Deep."