San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Honors Haley Joel Osment with Craft in Focus Award

Actor Haley Joel Osment received the Spotlight Presentation: Craft in Focus Award at the 32nd San Luis Obispo International Film Festival on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The award, introduced this year by the festival, recognizes standout talent through in-depth conversations exploring their creative journeys and perspectives on filmmaking. Osment was honored for his career spanning decades, beginning with his acclaimed childhood performance in The Sixth Sense and evolving into notable work in both film and television.

As part of the recognition, the world premiere of Osment’s new film How to Date Again took place during the festival. The feature was primarily shot in San Luis Obispo County, marking a significant local connection to the project.

The Spotlight Presentation, which included a conversation with Osment and the premiere of How to Date Again, was held at the historic San Luis Obispo Masonic Lodge. The festival ran from Thursday, April 23 through Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Executive Director Skye McLennan commented on the honor, stating that Haley first captured audiences with his standout childhood performance in The Sixth Sense, and the festival looked forward to reflecting on his notable career as well as spotlighting his evolution into comedy and his continued commitment to championing independent film.

Osment’s recent work includes appearances in the latest season of Poker Face for Peacock alongside Natasha Lyonne, Patti Harrison, and Simon Helberg; season two of Tim Burton’s hit Netflix series Wednesday; the final season of Amazon’s Billy Bob Thornton-led legal drama Goliath; season three of the award-winning comedy The Kominsky Method; and a recurring role on Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, produced by Point Grey. He previously starred in the Hulu science fiction comedy Future Man, directed and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

The Craft in Focus Award is part of the festival’s ongoing efforts to highlight artists who contribute meaningfully to independent cinema through both performance and creative dedication. Osment’s recognition reflects his sustained involvement in projects that prioritize artistic vision over commercial scale.