Ben Affleck to receive Santa Barbara Film Festival honour

Ben Affleck is to be honored with the Modern Master Award at the 28th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) in California next year (13).

The Argo director will pick up the trophy - the highest accolade presented at the festival - at a ceremony on 26 January (13) in celebration of his accomplishments as a filmmaker and actor.

Roger Durling, SBIFF's executive director, says, "Affleck has come into his own as a multi-dimensional artist with Argo. He embodies what the Modern Master Award is all about, and we're thrilled to honor him this year."

Past recipients include Christopher Nolan, Michael Douglas, Jodie Foster, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Diane Keaton, Sean Penn, Jeff Bridges, Peter Jackson, George Clooney, Will Smith, Cate Blanchett, Clint Eastwood, and James Cameron.