On Feb. 11, Timothée Chalamet received the prestigious Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the 40th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). The tribute, held at the Arlington Theatre, featured an in-depth conversation with actor Josh Brolin and director James Mangold, celebrating Chalamet’s remarkable career and cinematic achievements.

Chalamet shared insights into his most challenging and rewarding roles. Discussing A Complete Unknown, in which he portrays Bob Dylan, he said, “This was a lifetime’s work, and the respect and passion I feel for Bob Dylan and his music was so great that it took me out of myself.” He added, “Without disrespecting my other performances and stuff that is to come, this was a lifetime’s work.”

Reflecting on his performance in Dune: Part Two, Chalamet expressed his pride in the project, stating, “There were nerves, that was probably the first thing I was feeling, but also pride…That movie is kick ass; I think Denis [Villeneuve] is the best director working right now, or one of the best.” He also touched on his evolution as an actor, sharing, “The King is a movie that I’m deeply, deeply proud of, because I think it’s where…I’ve thrown myself off the cliff the most. It’s the first film I did after Call Me by Your Name.”SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling praised Chalamet’s artistry, stating, “I was blown away by Chalamet’s transformation in A Complete Unknown. His performance is galvanizing and electrifying, especially coming on the heels of the major box office triumph earlier this year with Dune: Part Two. Truly, this is the age of Chalamet.”

Timothee Chalamet honored with the Arlington Artist Award [Image Credit Santa Barbara International Film Festival]