Sandra Bullock’s year continues its upswing with news that the 25th Santa Barbara International Film Festival is honoring her with the American Riviera Award on Feb. 5. The award, which recognizes actors who have had a strong influence on American cinema, is being given to Bullock for her turn in the recent hit “The Blind Side,” as well as for the range she’s shown throughout her career in films such as “Crash,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “The Proposal.”

The American Riviera Award might just be a positive sign for Bullock in regard to her future this award season. Previous recipients have included Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke and Oscar winners Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. And she’s certainly in buzz-worthy company: The festival is also honoring Colin Firth with its Outstanding Performance of the Year for “A Single Man.” Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air”), Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”), Stanley Tucci (“Julie & Julia,” “The Lovely Bones”) and Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award. And “Avatar” director James Cameron is being named this year’s Modern Master. The festival runs from Feb. 4 to 14.