George Lucas also created the Indiana Jones films

Lucas, 60, was chosen on Friday for the 33rd annual prize, which will be presented to him in June in Hollywood.

"I've been very fortunate to have had a long career doing what I love to do, and being recognised by AFI for it is really an honour," said Lucas.

Previous recipients include Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Taylor and Tom Hanks.

"I'm proud to be counted among such an extraordinary group of people whose lives are dedicated to the art of making movies," he added.

Praise

The chairman of the AFI board of trustees, Howard Stringer, described Lucas as a "master storyteller and a film pioneer".

"He has advanced the art of the moving image like few others, and in the process has inspired a new generation of film-makers around the world," Mr Stringer said.

Lucas' original Star Wars trilogy has just been released for the first time on DVD and his final prequel will be released in May.

Episode III - Revenge of the Sith will reveal how Darth Vader became a villain.

Lucas, whose other films include American Graffiti and the Indiana Jones series, was given a special award for his work in movie special effects earlier this year.

He was presented with the Visual Effects Society's first lifetime achievement award at a ceremony in Los Angeles by director James Cameron.

The awards ceremony included a computer-generated tribute to Lucas, featuring singing and dancing Toy Story characters.