Ethan Hawke is nominated for Best Actor at the upcoming Academy Awards for his role in “Blue Moon.” (Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus)
Actor, filmmaker and writer Ethan Hawke was honored with the American Riviera Award at the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival for his extensive, genre-spanning career. The award was presented by actor and Santa Barbara local Jeff Bridges, who Hawke has looked up to throughout his career.
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) American Riviera Award, recognizing “outstanding achievement in American film,” was presented in downtown Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre on Friday, Feb. 6. Hawke is currently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as late Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon.” This marks his fifth Academy Award nomination overall, and first in the Best Actor category.
In a red carpet interview with the Nexus, Hawke gave insight on the unique circumstances leading to his characterization of Hart, and how it contributed to his performance.
“People don’t really know [Hart]. They don’t know much about him, and they don’t have many preconceived notions,” Hawke said. “I got to draw from how Lorenz Hart and I intersected, and I got to build the character from there.”
Following a red carpet appearance by Hawke, Bridges and Hawke’s wife and teenage daughters, attendees were directed inside Arlington Theatre for the discussion portion of the evening. The talk was moderated by entertainment journalist Dave Karger, who guided Hawke and the audience through his career.
From Hawke’s first-ever acting role in 1985’s “Explorers,” which he starred alongside late actor River Phoenix at just 14 years old, to his star-turning roles in 1989’s “Dead Poets Society” and Academy Award-nominated performance in 2001’s “Training Day,” the retrospective set out to span Hawke’s prolific 40-year filmography.
“I’m gonna get comfortable,” Hawke said after taking a seat on stage across from Karger, unbuttoning his shirt before diving into the hour-long discussion.
After speaking about the early years of his career, Hawke commented on the nature of the film industry and what he loves most about acting.
“There’s an aspect of this profession that is really superficial and fancy flame of the ego in a way that can be destructive. But there’s another aspect that is really noble and enlightening and beautiful, and I want to share that with my family, and I want to share that with you all tonight,” Hawke said.
Throughout the night, Hawke also touched on his background in theater acting, comparing it to acting on camera. He credited his theater experience with properly preparing him for the dialogue-heavy script of “Blue Moon,” where he frequently monologues throughout the film.
Hawke talking to moderator Dave Karger. (Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus)
“Part of the relationship to the theater has been my training … I have the muscle memory and the habits that you need as a student to know how to handle that level of verbiage,” Hawke said.
Much of the conversation focused around the actor’s many high-profile and career-defining collaborations. Hawke’s most notable collaborator is filmmaker Richard Linklater, who directed Hawke in “Blue Moon.” The 2025 film marks their ninth film together, a joint filmography that has spanned over 30 years.
Hawke described working with Linklater on 1995’s romantic film “Before Sunrise” as “… the first time I … worked with somebody of my generation that was brilliant, and who thought about film not as a career but as a life’s calling.” The duo went on to make two more installments, creating the “Before” trilogy and earning Hawke and Linklater writing nominations for two Academy Awards each.
When discussing “Boyhood,” a coming-of-age epic that was filmed over the course of 12 years, Hawke cited his and Linklater’s similar upbringings as key for the emotional driving of the film. Hawke plays the divorced father of the main character.
“We both come from what they called when we were growing up ‘broken homes,’ for through divorce. And we both had a lot to say about that,” Hawke said.
The honoree also took time to praise his co-stars and fellow actors.
“I owe much of my career to other actors,” Hawke said.
Hawke’s star-studded list of onscreen partners include Winona Ryder in “Reality Bites,” Denzel Washington in “Training Day” and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.”
Hawke teared up when speaking about Hoffman, who passed away in 2014.
“[Hoffman] loved acting and he thought it was important. He thought we had a job to do and that the world was not going to help and we had to do it. And I loved him and I admired him and he was so good,” Hawke continued.
Following Karger’s discussion, Bridges came on the stage to deliver some words about Hawke and present him with the American Riviera Award. Bridges has been another longtime inspiration for Hawke, who shared an anecdote earlier in the night about having seen “every Jeff Bridges movie.” However, the two met only an hour prior, when backstage of Arlington Theatre.
“He feels like an old friend, and we just met tonight for the first time,” Bridges shared, laughing.
In his speech, Bridges highlighted Hawke’s multifaceted career.
“He directs, he writes novels, he acts on stage, TV, in the movies, makes documentaries. The guy’s a full-blown, realized artist, and it’s just so wonderful to herald him tonight,.” Bridges said.
Bridges touched on the evening’s common theme of collaboration.
“As Ethan mentioned, it’s a communal art form … not only the cast, but the crew, all of these guys putting their energies and their artistry together to make something beautiful,” Bridges said.
He commended Hawke’s artistry, comparing him to his own father, the late Lloyd Bridges.
“My dad would come on the set and he had such joy and excitement about what we were all getting to do together … That’s something that Ethan does,” Bridges said.
“I dig your approach, man,” he concluded. “I dig your style.”
Hawke was moved to tears by Bridges’ speech, wiping tears as he accepted the American Riviera Award and took to the podium to deliver a few words.
“I will remember this my whole life,” Hawke said.
Hawke thanked SBIFF, Karger and SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling for honoring him that evening and contributing to the world of cinema.
“Collectively, we who make film and care about art and care about stories and care about painting and pictures and documentaries and movies … we’re making dreams for each other. We’re talking to each other. And that’s how we heal ourselves,” Hawke said.
“I’m going to put this in my office and I’m going to think, ‘Jeff Bridges gave me this, man.’ That’s fucking awesome,” Hawke said, holding the award in both hands.
Despite meeting just that evening, Hawke and Bridges became fast friends, both actors citing the other as inspiration. (Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus)
He concluded his speech by commenting on the Trump administration’s escalated attacks on immigration and increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) across America.
“Let’s get I.C.E. off our streets, and into my drink,” Hawke said. The audience cheered in response.
Following his speech, Hawke and Bridges shook hands and embraced, marking a newfound friendship between the actors.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, where Hawke is currently nominated for Best Actor.
