Mike Leigh will receive this year's honourary Heart of Sarajevo awardat the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Leigh has previously visited the festival to show Topsy-Turvy in 2000, to receive a tribute in 2002, andto serve on the competition jury in 2004.

'His presence and support has done a great deal in increasing thevisibility of Central and Eastern European cinema and aiding the growth of theSarajevo Film Festival,' the festival said. 'Furthermore, Leigh hasplayed an instrumental role in the development of strong ties between theBritish film industry and our region, helping to confirm the Sarajevo FilmFestival as the main crossroads of international and CEE regional cinema.'

Mike Leigh will receive the award at the 12th Sarajevo Film Festival'sclosing ceremony. The festival runs August 18-26.