Norman Jewison to collect Directors Guild honour

Norman Jewison won an honorary Oscar a decade ago

Film-maker Norman Jewison is to collect a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of America (DGA).

The 83-year-old Canadian, whose screen credits include In The Heat of the Night and Moonstruck, will be presented with his honour on 30 January.

The DGA called Jewison "a legend in the industry" and praised his "ferocious creative fire".

Previous directors who have been received the awards include Clint Eastwood and Alfred Hitchcock.

In the Guild's 72-year history, only 32 directors have been awarded the honour.

Honorary Oscar

"There are very few film-makers whose body of work moves so fluidly between romantic comedy and political thriller, musical and satire, with an ease and an eloquence that few could hope to match," the organisation said of Jewison.

"Norman well deserves to stand among the giants of cinema whom we have honoured in the past," it added.

Jewison began his career as an actor in Canada before moving into directing some years later.

Three of his pictures - Fiddler On The Roof, In The Heat of the Night and Moonstruck - earned him Oscar nominations for best director.

It was not until 1999 that he collected an honorary Oscar for his work as a movie producer.

Jewison was also awarded Canada's highest civilian honour in 1992 and is chancellor of Toronto's Victoria University.

His most recent work was 2003 film The Statement, which he directed and produced.

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