The 24th Santa Barbara International Film Festival Welcomes the “Spanish enchantress” As Chopin Performer of the Year

WHO: Penélope Cruz, Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, is making her first trip up to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival to receive the Chopin Performer of the Year Award.  Good friend, Josh Brolin, will be on-hand to bestow the honor to this talented actress.  Other celebrities in attendance include festival jurors Gary Anthony Williams, Efren Ramirez, James Cromwell and Rodrigo Santoro.

WHAT: With multiple amazing performances this year in both Elegy and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which comes out on DVD January 27), it is only fitting to present the Chopin Performer of the Year Award to the talented Penélope Cruz.  Breaking into the US Cinema scene in 2001 with Blow and Vanilla Sky, Cruz has actually been acting since the age of 16 throughout Europe.  The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is proud to call such an international artist our performer of the year.

WHERE: Arlington Theatre
1317 State Street

WHEN:          Saturday, January 24, 2009
6pm - Press Check-In
7pm – Red Carpet Opens
8pm – Film Starts