Michelle Yeoh Receives SBIFF’s Highest Honor
Kirk Douglas Award Celebrates Star of 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'
Michelle Yeoh accepted the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 15th Annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort & Spa on December 09, 2022 | Credit: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF
Multi-talented Malaysian actress and skilled stuntwoman Michelle Yeoh has punched her way into peoples’ hearts, receiving the 15th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film on December 9 to kick off the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The event — which benefits SBIFF’s year-round educational programs — marks the first time since the passing of screen legend Douglas that the honor was awarded, and it was the most successful fundraiser in the festival’s history (Yeoh herself donated $10,000). It was also the first time the actress — who grew up watching Douglas on the big screen — had visited Santa Barbara. She called receiving the prestigious award a “pinch-yourself moment.”
“I only found out that I was the only recipient of an award tonight,” she professed in her acceptance speech, which was met with laughs from the audience. About 30 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were there, including President Janet Yang and actor and Montecito resident Christopher Lloyd. “I could not have imagined that so many of you would have turned up for me,” said Yeoh.
