by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent If you’ve attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), you’ll know that The Maltin Modern Masters Award in honor of legendary author/critic Leonard Maltin is a coveted prize in Hollywood. Leonard Maltin has dedicated his life to researching not only the cinema classics, but also the contemporary Best Pictures, actors, directors, and screenwriters as they emerge in the New Hollywood. That said, it is fitting that Or...

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent SANTA BARBARA, CA (1/23/2020): Brad Pitt continued his victory lap around the Awards Circuit with the Maltin Modern Master Award from 35th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) presented by UGG last night. The festival pulled out the big guns with Leonard Maltin conducting the sold-out tribute to Brad Pitt like the maestro of media that he is with this eponymous award. The Hollywood Leading Man admitted up front, “I did...

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent On Thursday night, when Denzel Washington is finally presented with his Leonard Maltin Masters Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the award hand-off is done by a little girl from the cast of FENCES, in which he stars and directs. This is the movie that has him Oscar-nominated along with co-star Viola Davis, who gives what can only be called a go-to-God, heart-stopping performance. Saniyya Sidney, age 11, presents the honor with ...

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent   Some actors find themselves between jobs, Michael Keaton found himself between careers.  Now Oscar-nominated for Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), the veteran actor had some “This Is Your Life” moments last night when he received the Modern Master Award from the 30th International Film Festival in Santa Barbara (SBIFF).  “Let’s call it a Renaissance,” intoned Leonard Maltin, who play...