MUMBAI: Leonardo DiCaprio is set to receive an honour at the upcoming Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California for his contribution to cinema.

The 38-year-old star will attend a special ceremony on 1 February to receive the prestigious Award.

Said Santa Barbara International Film Festival executive director Roger Durling, "We are thrilled to be honouring Leonardo DiCaprio with the American Riviera Award in a year where he has shown us another layer of his immeasurable talent. His performance in Django Unchained reaffirms that he is the most relevant actor of this generation."

DiCaprio joins the likes of earlier recipients including Sandra Bullock, Annette Bening, Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Mickey Rourke.

The festival, which will commence from 24 January, will be held till 3 February this year.