The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has named Quentin Tarantino the 2009 recipient of its annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film this week. The writer/director/actor/producer will be the fourth to receive the award, which celebrates an individual’s contributions to the world of cinema. Past recipients have included John Travolta, Ed Harris, and the award’s namesake, Kirk Douglas.
Since busting onto the Sundance scene with Reservoir Dogs in 1992, Tarantino has given his name and numerous talents to such classics as Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Natural Born Killers, and Kill Bill (Vols. 1 and 2). Most recently, Tarantino wrapped and released this year’s Inglourious Basterds, which stars Brad Pitt as a World War II lieutenant who organizes a Jewish-American mini-army to murder Nazis. Since opening last week, the film has earned more than $38 million at the box office, making it Tarantino’s best-selling debut weekend to date.
Tarantino is slated to receive the Kirk Douglas Award on Thursday, October 22 at a black-tie gala at the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara. Douglas will be on hand to present the award.
For more info on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, visit sbfilmfestival.org.