Veteran Czech filmmaker-artist Jan Svankmajer is to be presented with the Andrzej Wajda/Philip Morris Freedom Prize by Polish director Wajda at a special ceremony in Berlin's Academy of Arts on February 11.

The presentation will take place as part of the Freedom Film Showcase of films from Central and Eastern Europe to be held simultaneously with the Berlin Film Festival.

Established by the American Cinema Foundation, the prize is awarded to "a mid-career Eastern or Central European filmmaker of exceptional filmmaking artistry and moral bravery," and was presented last year to the Russian woman director Kira Muratova.

This latest honour comes after Svankmajer's fourth feature, Otesanek, was screened at this week's Rotterdam International Film Festival in the sidebar "Ex Voto: Mapping The Heart" along with another four of his previous films: J.S. Bach, A Quiet Week At The House and Leonardo's Door.