LIAM Neeson has said he is "honoured" to be recognised by The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) with an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Cinema’ award.
Ballymena-born actor Neeson is to be presented the award by President Michael D Higgins at the 2016 IFTA Film & Drama Awards at the Mansion House, Dublin on Saturday April 9.
Responding to the news, Neeson said that he is looking forward to celebrating at the ceremony “with my colleagues and friends.”
"I am honoured and humbled to be recognized by the Irish Academy with this award especially when I am following in the footsteps of an illustrious group of Irish filmmakers before me such as Boorman, Jordan, O'Hara and Sheridan”
In a career spanning 30 years, Neeson has appeared in 84 films and garnered numerous prestigious awards for his work.
He has recently completed work on Martin Scorsese’s new movie ‘Silence’ and is to appear in South Korean film 'Operation Chromite' as well as an adaptation of the 2011 fantasy novel 'A Monster Calls.'
Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive of IFTA said the Academy look forward to welcoming Liam Neeson home “to acknowledge and celebrate his achievements.”
“Liam is a luminary of film whose outstanding talent, craft and skill as an actor, along with his enormous achievements in the world of cinema, has made him an inspiration to young Irish filmmakers and actors coming through the ranks in our home industry today,” she said.
