The Santa Barbara International Film Festival will honor Ryan Gosling with its first Independent Award, established to recognize an actor who has made a significant and unique contribution to independent film.

The award will be presented to Gosling -- who was nominated earlier this year for a best actor Oscar for "Half-Nelson" and who is currently starring in "Lars and the Real Girl" -- on Jan. 29 at a tribute at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Ryan Gosling was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's first Independent Award. The Independent Award, an award the SBIFF established to recognize an actor who has made a significant and unique contribution to independent film, will be presented to Gosling on Tuesday, January 29, 2008. "In my opinion, Ryan has become the best actor of his generation - by making bold and well-intended choices," said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling. The 23rd edition of the festival runs January 24-February 3, 2008.

Congratulations!

Actor Ryan Gosling had plenty to smile about as he attended a high profile LA magazine event this week. The 27-year-old Canadian hunk is rounding off a stellar year in which he cemented his acting credentials with choice movie roles and award glories. Among the latter was a coveted best actor Oscar nod for hit indie flick Half Nelson .

After almost landing the career landmark which actors often wait their whole lives to achieve, Ryan found his Academy Award experience surreal but ultimately enjoyable. "It was a great night for my family, and that’s something I didn’t expect," he later said of the ceremony.

In total his portrayal of charismatic high school teacher Dan Dunne led to a staggering 11 best actor nominations from a range of prestigious cinema bodies. And five of these bore fruit for the Ontario-born thesp whose gong haul included a Spirit Award, presented by a top independent film organisation.

A lead role in quirky romantic comedy Lars And The Real Girl also brought critical praise when it was screened at this year's Toronto Film Festival. The heart-throb, who split from fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams this year, has a strong following with younger fans, too. And his role in smart thriller Fracture was recognised at this year's Teen Choice Awards with a best actor nomination.

And it isn't only cinema-goers who've been impressed by Ryan's activities over the last 12 months. His peers have responded, too, leading to him becoming one the select few invitated to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences each year in recognition of their outstanding contribution to film.

Source: HelloMagazine

Top Ten Films:

"The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"The Bucket List"
"Into the Wild"
"Juno"
"The Kite Runner"
"Lars and the Real Girl"
"Michael Clayton"
"Sweeney Todd"

By National Board of Review, for more information, click here.