MUMBAI: The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has selected Martin Scorsese to receive the American Riviera Award.

"Honoring Scorsese has been a dream of SBIFF‘s for many years," fest executive director Roger Durling has reportedly said. "We‘re thrilled that it‘s happening during a year when this contemporary master of cinema is breaking new ground with Hugo."
 
The award recognizes an artist who has had a strong influence on American cinema and this will be the first time it has been given to a director.

The award will be presented on January 30 at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. The 27th edition of the festival will run from January 26 to February 5.