Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck cuddle up on the red carpet at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

By Sameer Suri For Dailymail.com

Published: 02:12 EST, 6 February 2017 | Updated: 02:50 EST, 6 February 2017

Manchester By The Sea co-stars Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck trod the red carpet together at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The pair were there Sunday night to be garlanded with the 2017 Cinema Vanguard Award in the wake of their performances in Kenneth Lonergan's drama.

Williams sizzled in a sleeveless gown with embossed gold straps and a tear at her right side that offered a glimpse at her taut midriff.

Duo: Manchester By The Sea co-stars Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck trod the red carpet together at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Her dress was otherwise yellow, cinched about her enviably trim waist and featuring sections of pleated drapery.

Meanwhile, the younger brother of Ben Affleck, whose long hair was pulled behind his head and who's let a large beard sprout onto his face, opted for a black suit.

A grey tie went with it, contrasting elegantly against his white dress shirt, and he rounded out the ensemble with black dress shoes.

Honorees: The pair were there Sunday night to be garlanded with the 2017 Cinema Vanguard Award in the wake of their performances in Kenneth Lonergan's drama

The fact they were getting the award was announced in December on the film festival's website, which named Santa Barbara's Arlington Theatre as the venue.

'Throughout their respective careers, Casey and Michelle have impressed audiences with distinct, personal roles and we are excited to bring them together to honor their sublime performances in Manchester by the Sea,' said Roger Durling, Executive Director of the festival. 

Rooney Mara scooped up the award last year for Carol, and the year before, it'd gone jointly to Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones for The Theory Of Everything.

When you got it: Williams sizzled in a sleeveless gown with embossed gold straps and a tear at her right side that offered a glimpse at her taut midriff

Sunny motif: Her dress was otherwise yellow, cinched about her enviably trim waist and featuring sections of pleated drapery

Once the two stars got in The Dom Pérignon Lounge at the film festival, they settled themselves down on a long brown and white couch.

Interviewing them was a besuited Scott Feinberg, awards columnist at The Hollywood Reporter, which sponsored the event.

Affleck stars in Manchester By The Sea as Lee Chandler, who upon his brother's unexpected death becomes guardian to nephew Patrick, played by Lucas Hedges.

Dapper: Meanwhile, the younger brother of Ben Affleck, whose long hair was pulled behind his head and who's let a large beard sprout onto his face, opted for a black suit

Williams is Lee's remarried ex-wife Randi, with whom he'd had three children who'd all perished when the family's home caught alight.

The 41-year-old leading man's won Best Actor from the Golden Globe Awards, the AACTA Awards, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Women Film Critics Circle and others.

Like the 36-year-old My Week With Marilyn star, he's also been nominated for an Oscar for his work on Manchester By The Sea - though, in his case, the decisoin's not been without controversy.

Will they win?:  Both the 41-year-old and his 36-year-old co-star have also been nominated for Academy Awards for their work on Manchester By The Sea

Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Madalena Gorka, who'd worked with him on the 2010 film I'm Still Here, have accused him of sexual harassment. Both filed suit, and the cases were settled in 2010.

After news broke that Affleck had been nominated for the Academy Award, Constance Wu of Fresh Off The Boat expressed her fury on Twitter.

'Men who sexually harass women 4 OSCAR! Bc good acting performance matters more than humanity,human integrity!Bc poor kid rly needs the help!' she wrote. 

'Boys! BUY ur way out of trouble by settling out of court!Just do a good acting job,thats all that matters!bc Art isn't about humanity,right?' she also tweeted.

Once the two stars got in The Dom Pérignon Lounge at the film festival, they settled themselves down on a long brown and white couch

Interviewing them was a besuited Scott Feinberg, awards columnist at The Hollywood Reporter, which sponsored the event

All smiles: The pair of them seemed to be in high spirits ahead of being awarded

 

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