Sylvester Stallone to be feted at Santa Barbara film festival

Actor Sylvester Stallone has been tapped by the jury of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival for this year's Montecito Award.

The honour will be presented following a career retrospective on February 9, reports variety.com.

"Sylvester Stallone's performance in 'Creed' has reminded us of what a true talent he is and what a joy it is to share in his successes as the many beloved characters he has created," Roger Durling, executive director, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, said in a statement.

"Since he first hit the silver screen as Rocky Balboa nearly four decades ago, he has been a force in the industry both on film and behind the scenes. He is a true legend in our field," Durling said in a statement.

The Montecito Award, named after a posh nearby community in Santa Barbara that luminaries like Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and Google's Eric Schmidt call home, is annually reserved for "a person in the entertainment industry who has made a great contribution to film."

Previous recipients include Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Bill Condon and Naomi Watts.

Other celebrities from this year's awards race set to be honoured at the fest, which runs from February 3 to February 13, include Johnny Depp, the "Spotlight" trio of Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams, Alicia Vikander, Jacob Tremblay, Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan.

Stallone is also nominated in the Actor in a Supporting Role category at this year's Oscars, which will take place on February 28.