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Santa Barbara International Film Festival to honor Forest Whitaker

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Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”) is the recipient of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film.

Whitaker, who is also a producer and director, will receive the honor at a black-tie gala Dec. 15 at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara.

“Forest Whitaker is an exceptional man and actor,” Kirk Douglas said in a statement. “His commitment to human causes, his passion for what is right, and his dedication to his craft are inspirational and at my age, inspiration is rare.”

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Previous recipients include Michael Douglas, Kirk’s son; Robert De Niro and Harrison Ford.

Whitaker earned strong reviews this summer for his starring role in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” and will soon be seen in “Out of the Furnace” and “Black Nativity.”

Founder of Significant Productions, Whitaker also served as producer of the award-winning “Fruitvale Station.”

The 52-year-old Whitaker is also receiving the Actor Tribute at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in New York on Dec. 2

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