Jaafar Jackson, who plays the King of Pop in the biopic Michael, is headed to Santa Barbara. Jackson is one of eight performers selected for the 2027 Virtuosos Award at the 42nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the festival announced.
The honorees are Carrie Coon, Mariana di Girolamo, Rosalind Eleazar, Jordan Firstman, Anthony Ippolito, Jackson, Inde Navarrette and Kate O'Flynn. The award recognizes performers whose film work has put them at the center of the conversation around the year's most noteworthy performances. All eight will discuss their work and accept the award in person on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2027, in an evening moderated for the 17th year by Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger.
A Strong Showing for Black and Latino Talent
The class includes Rosalind Eleazar and Inde Navarrette, who was recently named the Palm Springs Rising Star honoree. Karger said in a statement that he found it fitting that so many of this year's Virtuosos are international performers.
The award has a track record of spotlighting performers in the thick of awards season. Past Virtuosos from the last six years include Teyana Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku, Chase Infiniti, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Danielle Deadwyler, America Ferrera, Karla Sofía Gascón, Andra Day, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Saniyya Sidney, Ariana DeBose, Jeremy Pope and Zendaya.
The 42nd Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs Feb. 3-13, 2027, with events at the Arlington Theatre and the SBIFF Film Center. The festival previously announced that John Malkovich will receive the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award and Andrew Garfield will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award.
Revisit Cup of Soul's coverage of the first look at Jaafar Jackson in Michael, the 2026 Celebration of Black Cinema and Television honorees and the SCAD Savannah Film Festival lineup featuring Eleazar.
