Pedro Almodovar honoured by European Film Academy

Pedro Almodovar writes as well as directs his own films

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar is to be honoured by the European Film Academy for his achievement in world cinema.

The 63-year-old said he was "very thankful" for the honorary award.

"From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators, I share with them the joy of this award," he said.

He will receive the prize at a ceremony in Berlin on 7 December.

In announcing the award, the European Film Academy said Almodovar's films had "played an important role in shaping the way we see not only Spain but also European cinema itself".

The Skin I Live In director is Spain's most prolific film-maker, known for his mix of high melodrama while tackling identity and mental health issues.

His 1988 film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown brought him to international attention and won him the best young film award at the first European Film Awards.

Almodovar won an Oscar for best original screenplay for his 2003 film Talk To Her, which also earned him a nomination for best director.

The film went on win a Bafta for best film not in the English language.

Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas also both found fame in Hollywood after starring in Almodovar films, with Cruz earning an Oscar nomination for her role in the director's 2006 film, Volver.