It’s turning out to be a better life for Demián Bichir after his starring role as a an East L.A. illegal immigrant gardener.

The 48-year-old Mexican actor, who has received a Spirit Award nod and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, will receive one of the Virtuosos Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival next month for his inspired work in A Better Life.

The critically acclaimed film centers on an illegal immigrant father’s love and details the lengths he’ll go to give his child the opportunities he never had.

Along with Bichir, Virtuosos Awards will be presented on Friday, February 3 to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’s Rooney Mara, Bridesmaids’ Melissa McCarthy, Young Adult’s Patton Oswalt, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Andy Serkis and The Descendants’ Shailene Woodley.

In addition, The Artist’s Bérénice Bejo and her co-star Jean Dujardin will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the festival on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

The 27thAnnual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will take place from January 26 through February 5.