Michael Apted will receive the International Filmmaker Award at the Nortel Networks Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan 12. The award, which is given to an actor or director who has "broken through the barrier of language and crossed over the borders of culture to become a film-maker of the world will be presented by Michael York. Past winners have included Liv Ullman, Ang Lee, Lasse Hallstrom, Pedro Almodovar, Catherine Deneuve and Zhang Yimou.

Apted will attend the festival and present a screening of his latest film Enigma which will open through the US in April this year through Manhattan Pictures.

An influential documentarian who created the 7 Up series, Apted's dramatic film credits include Coalminer's Daughter, Gorky Park, Gorillas In The Mist, Blink, Nell, Extreme Measures and The World Is Not Enough. HIs next film is the eagerly awaited drama Enough starring Jennifer Lopez.