Jean-Luc Godard will not attend the Governors Awards hosted by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences to collect his honorary award on November 13.

The Academy issued a statement today [25] in which it said the decision followed a “two-month-long cordial exchange” between Godard and Academy president Tom Sherak.

“He reiterated his thanks for the award,” Sherak said, “and also sent his good wishes to the other individuals being honoured the same night – Kevin Brownlow, Francis Ford Coppola and Eli Wallach – who he refers to as ‘the three other musketeers.’”

Godard’s partner Anne-Marie Mieville had previously told press that the 79-year-old film-maker was too old to travel and would not be picking up his award in person. She had also suggested that Godard was disgruntled with the fact that the presentation was not part of the main Oscar telecast on February 27.

The November 13 dinner ceremony, which is being produced by Sid Ganis and Don Mischer, will pay tribute to Godard through film clips and commentary. His latest film, Film Socialisme (pictured), premiered in Cannes.

The award will be accepted on Godard’s behalf by the Academy and following the event, the Academy will arrange for the Oscar statuette to be delivered to the film-maker in Switzerland.