Binodon Desk:

The prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred to the renowned Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in the western Indian state of Goa next month.

The announcement was made by India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur through a post on X. Douglas will be present at the IFFI along with his spouse and eminent actress-philanthropist Catherine Zeta Jones and their son-actor Dylan Douglas.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in the 30th IFFI in 1999, is presented to individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly enriched and elevated the world of cinema.

“Michael Douglas, a luminary in the film industry, has captivated audiences globally with his unparalleled talent and commitment to his craft,” an official statement said.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award has previously honored luminaries like Bernardo Bertolucci, Carlos Saura, Martin Scorsese, Dilip Kumar, Krzysztof Zanussi and and Wong Kar-wai  among other major film personalities.

Michael Douglas has enjoyed a remarkable career, earning two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award. His roles in films “Wall Street (1987)”, “Basic Instinct (1992)”, “Falling Down (1993)”, “The American President (1995)”, “Traffic (2000)” and “Behind the Candelabra (2013)” have left an indelible imprint on cinema history. He has also produced a number of critically acclaimed films “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest  (1975)”, “The China Syndrome (1979)” and “The Game (1999)”.

In 1998, Douglas was appointed the UN Messenger of Peace for his commitment to disarmament issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. He was awarded the honorary Palm D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, a testament to his enduring influence on the global film fraternity.

Catherine Zeta Jones, an accomplished actress in her own right, has been recognized for her contributions to cinema and her commitment to philanthropy. Her filmography includes “Traffic (200)”, “Chicago (2002)” and “The Mask of Zorro (1998)”, which have earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades. She is also the recipient of an Academy Award and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award.