DUSTIN HOFFMAN - HOFFMAN GIVEN FRENCH FILM AWARD

HOFFMAN GIVEN FRENCH FILM AWARD

The French film industry has honoured American actor Dustin Hoffman with a special Cesar award at a ceremony in Paris.

The Hollywood A-lister made his name as one of the finest character actors of his generation with starring roles in films as diverse as Rain Man, Kramer vs Kramer, Meet The Fockers and The Graduate.

And his contribution to film was recognised by the French academy, who gave the 71-year-old their equivalent of a lifetime achievement Oscar.

In the rest of the awards, hit work Seraphine - the story of a talented painter discovered by a German art collector just before the outbreak of the first world war - fared best by taking seven awards, including best film and best actress for lead Yolande Moreau.

The best actor prize went to Vincent Cassel in gangster movie Mesrine, which also earned a best director award for Jean-Francois Richet.