Oscar nominee John Hawkes accepted the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s highest honor in an awards ceremony Saturday evening at the Fremont movie theater in San Luis Obispo.

“This is an amazing honor,” said Hawkes, the star of “The Sessions,” “Winter’s Bone” and “Martha Marcy May Marlene.”

“This is the first and hopefully not last career achievement award I’ll receive,” Hawkes said, noting that he’s spent much of his career under the radar. “It’s a little daunting, a little humbling, because in a lot of ways I feel like I’m just getting started.”

Festival co-founder Jim Dee presented the King Vidor Career Achievement Award to Hawkes. Named after the prolific director of “The Crowd” and “War and Peace,” the award recognizes excellence in filmmaking.

Dee, the owner of the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo, described Hawkes as a “chameleon who has taken audience members’ breath away in every performance.”

“Over the last decade, his career has truly blossomed. He’s really come into his own,” said Dee, who received the King Vidor award in 1999. “I’m looking forward to what this great actor is going to give us in the future.” 

Other past recipients include Morgan Freeman, Peter Fonda, Malcolm McDowell and Eva Marie Saint.

After festival organizers showed a sizzle reel that showcased Hawkes’ career on film, the actor chatted with Dee onstage and fielded questions from the audience.

Saturday’s festivities included the George Sidney Independent Film Awards.

“Missed Connections” and “The Story of Luke” tied for the festival’s award for best narrative feature, and “G-Dog” won best documentary feature and Best in the Fest, while “Behind the Mirrors” took honors for short film.

“First Flight” took best student film, while “Green Acres” and “Rising From Ashes” won special jury prizes for short film and sports documentary, respectively.

Audience awards went to the short film “Born Yesterday,” the narrative feature “The Story of Luke” and the documentary “Somm.”

Today at the slo Film Festival

Passes to all festival events can be purchased at festival headquarters, 1007 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. More information: 546-3456, www.slofilmfest.org

“Burzynski: Cancer Is Serious Business, Chapter Two”

What: In the follow-up to his 2010 documentary, filmmaker Eric Merola revisits bio-chemist Stanislaw Burzynski and his controversial cancer treatment clinic in Houston. World premiere.

When: 2 p.m. 

Where: Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo

How much: $8 to $10

“Citizen Hearst”

What: After the Central Coast Filmmaker Awards, watch Leslie Iwerks’ documentary charting the 125-year history of the Hearst Corporation, the media empire built by mogul William Randolph Hearst.  

When: 6 p.m. 

Where: Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo 

How much: $8 to $10