Mike Leigh To Receive Top Zurich Film Festival Award

The Mr. Turner moviemaker will be handed the prestigious Golden Eye trophy by festival bosses, who call Leigh "an important exponent of so-called New British Cinema" and "a genius of filmmaking".

Leigh will pick up the honour during a ceremony on 3 October (15) and he will also hold a public masterclass during the festival, which will screen a retrospective of his movies between 24 September (15) and 4 October (15).

Previous recipients of the lifetime achievement honour include John Malkovich, John Travolta and Helen Hunt.