Chilean-born screenwriter, film and theatre director Raoul Ruiz is to receive the Master of Cinema Award at this year's Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival (Nov 20-29).

The honour comes days after Ruiz was selected as Filmmaker in Focus at next year's Rotterdam International Film Festival (Jan 21 - Feb 1, 2004).

The award will be presented to the 62 year-old director at a gala ceremony in Mannheim on November 22.