Michael B. Jordan will be celebrated with one of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's highest honors next year. The acclaimed actor, producer, and director has been named the recipient of the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the festival's upcoming 41st edition, in recognition of his powerful dual performance in "Sinners".
Jordan will be formally honored on February 12, 2026, during a tribute ceremony at the festival in Santa Barbara, California. The award spotlights his portrayal of twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Warner Bros.' Depression-era drama, which marks his fifth collaboration with longtime creative partner Ryan Coogler. Set in the Jim Crow South, Sinners has been both a cultural phenomenon and a commercial powerhouse, already surpassing $366 million at the global box office and drawing widespread critical acclaim.
"I have been a stalwart Michael B. Jordan fan since his days on The Wire, and now he's a bona fide box office star giving one of the year's most intricate performances - make that two - in Sinners. He does incredibly nuanced work creating two specific characters - the brothers Smoke and Stack - and when they interact with each other, it's pure alchemy," said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.
Michael B. Jordan first broke onto the scene with his heart-wrenching role as Wallace in HBO's landmark drama "The Wire", followed by memorable work in "Friday Night Lights". His creative partnership with Coogler began with the acclaimed 2013 indie drama "Fruitvale Station", and continued with "Creed", which revitalized the Rocky franchise, and the record-breaking global sensation "Black Panther".
Jordan has established himself over the past decade as one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men. With "Sinners", critics have hailed his ability to inhabit two distinct characters with depth and authenticity.
Beyond acting, Jordan has also made his mark behind the camera. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with "Creed III", which earned the highest-grossing opening weekend ever for a sports film. He is now preparing to direct, produce, and star in a new reimagining of "The Thomas Crown Affair" for Amazon MGM Studios.
Through his production company Outlier Society, Jordan has a diverse slate of projects while also spearheading initiatives aimed at expanding opportunity in the entertainment industry. Among these efforts are the Outlier Society Fellowship, designed to support underrepresented voices in film, and the annual HBCU Legacy Classic, which combines culture, basketball, and education to spotlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The Outstanding Performer of the Year Award has long been one of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's most prestigious honors, celebrating actors who have delivered standout performances that define the year in cinema. Past recipients include some of the industry's most revered talents such as Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, Rami Malek, Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and Heath Ledger.
The 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place February 4-14, 2026.
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