Emily Blunt to Receive Kirk Douglas Film Award

Emily Blunt will receive the 19th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The award ceremony is scheduled for December 10, 2026, at a gala dinner at the Ritz Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. This honor recognizes Blunt's significant contributions to cinema and comes as she is generating awards buzz for her recent performances. The award benefits the festival's year-round educational programs. This year's ceremony will be a black-tie gala, serving as a fundraiser for the festival and its initiatives. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival itself is set to take place from February 3 to February 13, 2027. Blunt has had a notable year, starring in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film "Disclosure Day," which has drawn strong reviews. She also reprised her role as Emily Charlton in "The Devil Wears Prada 2," a sequel to the 2006 film that helped launch her career. Her performance as Kitty Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" earned her an Academy Award nomination, and she received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine.