The 73-year-old director will be presented with a cash prize of Rs ten lakh and an award by Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari during the opening function of IFFI on November 20.
The Lifetime Achievement Award of IFFI is conferred on an eminent international film personality for outstanding contribution to the world cinema.
One of Zanussi's films - 'Illumination', which he directed in 1973, will be screened in the 'Cinema of the World' section at IFFI.
The showcased film has won awards such as Grand Prix, FIPRESCI Award, Ecumenical Jury's Award at the International Film Festival, Locarno 1973, another award at the International Film Festival, Ravenna in 1973.
It was honoured with other awards like Distinction, International Film Festival, Mannheim (1973), Special Award, Polish Festival of Feature Films, Gdan'sk (1974), Golden Medal, International Film Festival, Figueira da Foz (1975), a statement released by the I&B ministry here said.
Zanussi was born in 1939 in Warsaw where he graduated in film direction from Lodz Films School. He directed his first feature film in 1969.
Some prominent films by Zanussi include 'The Structure of Crystal' (1969), 'The Spiral' (1978), 'Constant Factor' (1980), 'The Contract' (1980) and 'Inventory' (1989).
Zanussi's works are often described as intellectual and deeply philosophical. He also has a close association with Film and Television Institute of India, Pune where he has conducted several workshops for the students of FTII. (More)
