AceShowbiz - "The King's Speech" has been given another big Oscars boost just two days after claiming gold at the Producers Guild Awards in Hollywood - the cast has won the Best Ensemble prize at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and their castmates will be honored at the 26th annual bash in California next week. The film, which also features performances by Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi and Claire Bloom, is expected to be among the 10 movies nominated for a Best Picture Oscar when the nods are announced on Tuesday, January 25 morning.

Firth was honored with the festival's Outstanding Performance of the Year award last year for his work in "A Single Man". Rush will be honored separately at the festival with the Montecito Award. The festival begins later this week.