Bourne, Captain Phillips director recognised for focusing international attention on the UK.

Paul Greengrass is to receive the Variety Award at the 16th Moët British Independent Film Awards, set to be held on Dec 8 at Old Billingsgate, London.

The prizes recognises a director, actor, writer or producer who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK.  Previous recipents include Jude Law, Kenneth Branagh, Daniel Craig, Dame Helen Mirren and Richard Curtis among others.

Greengrass received an Oscar nomination for his work on 9/11 drama United 93 and won top awards at Berlin and Sundance for Bloody Sunday.

The British director took on the Bourne spy franchise in 2004 and worked with star Matt Damon again on sequel The Bourne Ultimatum and Green Zone. His latest feature is Captain Phillips, which opened the BFI London Film Festival this year.

Greengrass spent the first decade of his career covering global conflict for ITV current affairs programme World In Action and writing and directing documentaries. He also co-wrote bestselling memoir Spycatcher with Peter Wright, former assistant director of Britain’s MI5.

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