Ryan Gosling shows his support for Barbie director Greta Gerwig before presenting her the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction at the star-studded 2023 SFFILM Awards in San Francisco

Ryan Gosling showed his unwavering support for Barbie director Greta Gerwig at the star-studded SFFILM Awards in San Francisco on Monday night as he prepared to present her the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction. 

As he arrived to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the 43-year-old Oscar nominee, who most recently portrayed Ken opposite of Margot Robbie in 2023’s highest-grossing movie, cut a dapper figure in a charcoal grey blazer with gold buttons, coordinating trousers and a black dress shirt that he wore partially undone to reveal his chest.

Since wrapping Barbie’s press tour, the Canadian actor ditched his character’s bleach blonde head of hair and clean-shaven appearance. 

In addition to dyeing his locks back to his signature dark blonde, the father-of-two grew out a mustache and beard for a more ruggedly handsome look. 

After posing for a few solo shots, the La La Land star reunited with Gerwig, 40, on the red carpet. 

The Sacramento native, best known for her work on acclaimed films like Frances Ha, Lady Bird, and Little Women, radiated beauty in a cobalt blue gown, paired with an oversized black blazer, gold hoops and matching bracelets. 

For her big night, she sported shiny red nail polish, a glossy pink lipstick, blush and her golden tresses in tousled waves. 

Gerwig, who is married to American filmmaker Noah Baumbach, is attending as an honoree for her ‘storytelling skills.’

Last month, SFFILM announced that she, alongside Roger Ross Williams, Cord Jefferson and Nicolas Cage, would be recognized for their extraordinary achievements and visions during the ceremony. 

‘Greta, Roger, Cord, and Nicolas all wear many creative hats, develop bold new ideas, and are distinguished in more than one field,’ SFFILM Director of Programming Jessie Fairbanks said in a statement. ‘We selected these four individuals because each person brings a fearlessness to the craft of cinema, pushing the art form and offering incisive commentary on the world. We need their voices now more than ever.’ 

Past recipients of the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction, which is going home with Gerwig, include Ryan Coogler, Guillermo del Tor, Philip Kaufman, Mike Leigh, Spike Lee and Werner Herzog. 

Cage, who was receiving the Maria Manetti Shrem Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting, wore a black suit and white dress shirt for the occasion. 

He appeared in good spirits as he prepared to take home the award, given to ‘performers whose work in film exemplifies brilliance, independence, and integrity.’ 

Past recipients include Margot Robbie, Glenn Close, Adam Driver, Amy Adams, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Robin Williams and Harrison Ford, among others. 

Over his career in film, the actor has earned an Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. 

While gracing the red carpet, he mingled with Fairbanks, who wore a blue velvet suit and black blouse, Anne Lai and Lisa Kleiner Chanoff. 

Cord Jefferson beamed on the red carpet, alongside Ortiz, who was in charge of presenting him with the George Gund III Award. 

Jefferson, an Emmy award-winning writer, made sure to stand out from the crowd in a bright orange suit as he prepared to accept a trophy for being an outstanding visionary in cinema. 

Last year, Stephanie Hsu received this award for her work in Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams was dressed to impress in a black and white patterned jacket as he prepared to pick up the Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling. 

The star, who is the first African American director to win an Academy Award, was being honored for his bringing to life stories of ‘critical importance.’ 

Actor Raúl Castillo will be presenting his award. 

The SFFILM is a celebratory event that honors exemplary achievement in film craft and is a fundraiser with proceeds from the event ‘supporting the organization’s mission to discover, nurture, and showcase the next generation of film artists,’ according to their website. 

According to SFFILM’s Executive Director, Anne Lai: ‘SFFILM has been part of San Francisco’s cultural landscape for over six decades. It is an organization that has led the way in showcasing singular voices in film like our honorees Greta Gerwig, Roger Ross Williams, Cord Jefferson, and Nicolas Cage.’ 

SFFILM Awards Night’s sponsors include Lucasfilm, Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery and A24 as well as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. 

The venue was held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), which has been open to the public since 1993. 

YBCA was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood and Its include ‘realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life.’ 

Funds raised during SFFILM Awards Night provide ‘critical support for year-round programs in youth education, artist development, and exhibition.’ 

SFFILM is a nonprofit organization that aims to make sure independent voices in film are heard and welcome.