Lucas Receives Afi Honour

George Lucas received a lifetime achievement award from the AMERICAN FILM Institute (AFI) last night (09JUN05).

The Star Wars creator accepted his award from OSCAR-winning film-maker STEVEN SPIELBERG - and stars of the original sci-fi trilogy Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill paid tribute to Lucas at the Los Angeles ceremony.

SIR HOWARD STRINGER, chairman of the AFI's Board of Trustees, says, "George Lucas is a master storyteller, but he is first and foremost a moving image pioneer.

"He has advanced the art of the moving image like few others, and in the process has inspired a new generation of film-makers around the world."

Lucas gushes, "I'm proud to be counted among such an extraordinary group of people whose lives are dedicated to the art of making movies."

Previous winners of the award include Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.