Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear accepted the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s top honor Saturday night.

“This is really incredible. Thank you so much,” the actor said, accepting the King Vidor Career Achievement Award.

“I don’t have a real award already,” Kinnear added, referring to the statuette he accepted. “A lot of certificates — nothing that’s not flammable.”

Jill Sprecher, director of “The Convincer” and “Thirteen Conversations About One Thing,” presented Kinnear with the award at the Fremont theater in San Luis Obispo.

“Like last year’s winner (Alan Arkin), Greg Kinnear is what I consider a study in contradictions,” Sprecher said in her introduction of Kinnear. “He’s a movie star without a movie star’s ego.

“You will never catch him ‘acting,’ ” she added. “I think that’s where his brilliance lies.”

Before Kinnear came on stage, the audience watched a series of video clips from films in which he starred, including “Sabrina,” “As Good As It Gets,” “Nurse Betty,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Convincer.”

Named after the prolific director of “War and Peace,” the King Vidor award recognizes excellence in filmmaking.

Past recipients include actors Morgan Freeman, Peter Fonda and Malcolm McDowell.

Kinnear took the stage following the festival’s George Sidney Independent Film Awards, hosted by San Luis Obispo pastor Jane Voigts.

“City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story” won best documentary feature, while the Canadian black comedy “A Beginner’s Guide to Endings” won best narrative film. Those movies’ filmmakers will each receive $1,000.

“Bye Bye Now” took the honor for best short documentary. “The Interview” won best short narrative film, and Oscar nominee “Kavi” won best student film. The winners of those three awards will each receive $500.

In the Central Coast Filmmakers Showcase, four films received honors: the documentaries “Haute Couture: A Fashion Documentary” and “Camp Unity,” and the narrative films “The Monstrosity” and “Destroying Angel.”

Audience awards went to “City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story” for best documentary and “Lab Rats” for best short film. “Thanks” and “Language of a Broken Heart” tied for the audience award for best narrative feature.

“City Lax” also won the festival’s top audience-choice award, “Best of the Fest.”

Today at the festival

“Laughology”

What: This film about the nature of laughter is intended to leave audiences rolling in the aisles. Director Albert Nerenberg will lead a “laughter yoga” session after the screening.

When: 2 p.m.

Where: La Perla del Mar, 205 Windward Ave., Pismo Beach

How much: $7 to $9. Passes to all festival events can be purchased at festival headquarters, 848 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo.

“The Night of the Hunter”

What: A murderous preacher (Robert Mitchum) marries a gullible widow (Shelley Winters) in the hopes of getting his hands on her husband’s stolen fortune. Jim Dee and Bob Whiteford, hosts of “Take Two” on KCBX-FM, introduce this classic thriller.

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Galaxy Theatres, Colony Square, Atascadero

How much: $7 to $9.

More information

546-3456, www.slofilmfest.org