DiCaprio, Penn & Del Toro Honored at SBIFF for 'One Battle After Another'

The trio received the Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award for their collaborative work on the critically acclaimed film.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 2:23am

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro were jointly honored with the Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The award celebrated the trio's collaborative work in Paul Thomas Anderson's film 'One Battle After Another' and recognized their individual contributions to cinema.

Why it matters

The ceremony highlighted the enduring talent and presence of these three acclaimed actors in an evolving film industry. The award recognized their ability to take on challenging roles and their commitment to the craft of acting, cementing their status as 'movie stars old-fashioned, with talent, some mystery, some class, a little bit of unpredictable danger'.

The details

The evening featured a retrospective of each actor's career, with film critic Pete Hammond presenting curated clips from their extensive filmographies. DiCaprio spoke about his intention to explore themes of greed and excess through his role in 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' while Penn shared his meticulous preparation for his portrayal of Harvey Milk. Del Toro recounted the challenges he faced early in his career, including industry attempts to rebrand him. The ceremony culminated with director Paul Thomas Anderson taking the stage to present the awards and express his long-held admiration for the trio.

  • The ceremony was held on Monday night at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
  • The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues through February 14th.

The players

Leonardo DiCaprio

An acclaimed American actor known for his versatile performances in films such as 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' 'The Revenant,' and 'The Wolf of Wall Street'.

Sean Penn

An American actor recognized for his diverse roles in films like 'Hurly Burly,' 'All the King's Men,' and 'Milk,' for which he won an Academy Award for his portrayal of pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Benicio del Toro

A Puerto Rican actor known for his distinctive presence and ability to convey complex emotions in films such as 'Traffic,' 'The Pledge,' and '21 Grams'.

Paul Thomas Anderson

An acclaimed American filmmaker who directed the critically praised film 'One Battle After Another,' which featured the collaborative work of DiCaprio, Penn, and del Toro.

Pete Hammond

A renowned film critic who moderated the award ceremony and presented curated clips from the actors' filmographies.

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What they’re saying

“That (movie) was misunderstood by certain people as a glorification of greed or that culture. But it was meant to make a comment on something innate in us as human.”

— Leonardo DiCaprio

“I grew an incredible affection for this guy that I…would never get to meet. There was something just moving about him.”

— Sean Penn

“If you like your movie stars old-fashioned, with talent, some mystery, some class, a little bit of unpredictable danger, then here are three of a dying breed. So, cherish them while they're still here.”

— Paul Thomas Anderson, Director

What’s next

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will continue through February 14th, with upcoming highlights including an Outstanding Directors Award presentation honoring Ryan Coogler, Josh Safdie, Joachim Trier, and Chloe Zhao on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

The joint honor bestowed upon DiCaprio, Penn, and del Toro at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival serves as a testament to their enduring talent, versatility, and commitment to challenging roles, cementing their status as a 'dying breed' of old-fashioned movie stars in a changing industry.