Jeff Skoll will receive the Producers Guild Of America's (PGA) 2009 Visionary Award at the 20th Annual PGA Awards on January 24 in Hollywood.

Skoll is a philanthropist and the chairman and founder of Participant Media, which financed such films as The Visitor, Charlie Wilson's War, The Kite Runner, Darfur Now, An Inconvenient Truth and Good Night, Good Luck.

'Jeff Skoll epitomises the meaning behind this prestigious award,' PGA awards co-chairs David T Friendly and Laurence Mark said. 'His vision as a media entrepreneur and his commitment to entertain and educate audiences around the world has resulted in powerful films and is only enhanced by his conviction as a philanthropist to global issues that affect all of us.'

'When I first saw movies such as To Kill A Mockingbird and Gandhi, I realised the tremendous power of film to inspire people to do good,' Skoll said. 'My hope is that this award will inspire others to continue to use this medium to make the world a better place.'