Jennifer Lawrence Is Santa Barbara Int’l Film Fest’s ‘Outstanding Performer of the Year’

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival said Tuesday that Jennifer Lawrence, the beautiful and charismatic 22-year-old star of this year’s summer blockbuster The Hunger Games and the new awards season dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, will be presented with its Outstanding Performer of the Year Award on Jan 26. at Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre.

The fest’s 28th edition run Jan. 24 to Feb 3.

FILM REVIEW: Silver Linings Playbook

“Ms. Lawrence impressed us earlier this year in The Hunger Games, but has now left us moonstruck with her career-defining performance in Silver Lining Playbook – recalling classic turns by Lombard, Stanwyck and Colbert,” SBIFF executive director Roger Durling said in a statement. “Naming her our Outstanding Performer of the Year is an understatement.”

Prior to this year, Lawrence was best known for her gritty performance in the low-budget indie Winter’s Bone (2010), for which she received a best actress Oscar nomination. She was just 20 years old, making her the second-youngest person ever nominated in that category.

First presented in 2004, the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award has previously gone to Charlize Theron, Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger, Helen Mirren, Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Colin Firth, James Franco, and Viola Davis.