Gary Oldman will be honored with the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 33rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Oldman will be presented with the award on Feb. 2, 2018 for his longstanding contributions to the film industry culminating with Focus Features’ “Darkest Hour,” in which Oldman plays Winston Churchill. Leonard Maltin will return to moderate the evening for the 27th time.

“Gary Oldman has dazzled audiences for decades with an array of brilliant performances,” said Maltin. “With ‘Darkest Hour,’ he has once again proven that he is a force to be reckoned with, and a true master of his craft.”

“Darkest Hour” takes place during the early days of World War II, as the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds. Directed by Joe Wright from a screenplay by Anthony McCarten, the film also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Stephen Dillane. “Darkest Hour” is in theaters Nov. 22.

The Modern Master Award was established in 1995 and is the highest accolade presented by SBIFF. Created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry, it was re-named the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of Maltin.

Past recipients of the award include Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Bruce Dern, Ben Affleck, Christopher Plummer, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, Will Smith, George Clooney and Peter Jackson.

The 33rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place Jan. 31 through Feb. 10, 2018.