James Franco to be honored at Venice Film Festival

Actor-turned-director James Franco is to be honored for his moviemaking at the upcoming Venice Film Festival in Italy.

The Spider-Man star will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award during the event, which kicks off later this month (Aug14).

The prize recognizes Franco's directing work on The Sound and the Fury, an adaptation of William Faulkner's novel starring Seth Rogen and Jon Hamm, and he will pick up the prize on the day of the film's premiere during the festival on 5 September (14).

Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice Film Festival, says in a statement, "(Franco) is one of the most versatile and multi-talented auteurs on the current American scene, as an actor in cinema and theater, director, screenwriter, producer, soap-opera star, video-artist and much more - indeed, a relentless 'manufacturer' of cultural imagery."

Previous recipients of the award include Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino and Spike Lee.

The Venice Film Festival runs from 27 August until 6 September (14).