George Lucas will receivethe 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles in June 2005,one month after the global release of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge OfThe Sith.

"George Lucas is a masterstoryteller, but he is first and foremost a moving image pioneer," AFI board oftrustees chair Howard Stringer said.

"He has advanced the art ofthe moving image like few others, and in the process has inspired a newgeneration of filmmakers around the world."

"I've been very fortunate tohave had a long career dong what I love to do, and being recognised by AFI forit is really an honour," Lucas added.

"I'm proud to be countedamong such an extraordinary group of people whose lives are dedicated to theart of making movies."

The filmmaker follows adistinguished list of AFI Life Achievement Award recipients that includesSteven Spielberg, David Lean, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks andBarbara Streisand.

Lucas' directing creditsinclude the Star Wars series, AmericanGraffiti and THX 1138, and he served as executive producer on the IndianaJones franchise.