The celebratedBritish film critic and biographer David Thomson will receive the Prix MauriceBessy at the 27th Montreal World Film Festival, which runs from Aug 27-Sept 7.

Named after thelate French film writer and former Cannes Film Festival director, the awardcelebrates excellence in film writing and is handed out on an alternatingannual basis by the Cannes and Montreal festivals.

Based in California, Thomsonhas been a regular contributor to British newspapers and is perhaps best knownfor his highly opinionated reference book, New Biographical Dictionary Of Film.

Previous winnershave included Michel Ciment, Lo Duca, Andrew Sarris, Freddy Buache, ToddMcCarthy, Manny Farber, Raymond Chirat and Richard Schickel.