Jim Sheridan will receive the International Film-maker Award forProducing and Directing and Danny Elfman will collect the Frederick Loewe Awardfor Career Achievement in Film Composing at the 15th Annual Palm SpringsInternational Film Festival, which runs from Jan 8-19 2004.

Both will collect their awards on Jan 11 at a ceremony that willalso honour Kevin Costner, Anthony Minghella and Richard D Zanuck.

"Jim Sheridan is a writer, director and producer that has beenembraced by international audiences for his ability to tell unique, personaland uplifting stories through film," festival chairman elect Earl Greenburgsaid in a statement.

"He is a master storyteller and truly an actor's director and itis a pleasure to be able to honour him for his amazing achievements.

"Danny Elfman's music doesn'tjust accentuate and complete a scene, but elevates it to new artistic heights,"Greenburg added. "Throughout his career Elfman has become one of the mostdistinctive and original voices in Hollywood through his unique and imaginativework."

Sheridan's latest film, the acclaimed drama In America, recently earned six IFP IndependentSpirit Award nominations. His other credits include My Left Foot, In TheName Of The Father and TheBoxer.

Elfman's scorecredits include the Tim Burton films Big Fish, Beetlejuice, and Batman, as well as work for other directors on Spider-Man,Good Will Hunting and Chicago.