Producers guild to honor Spielberg

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Producers Guild of America says it plans to honor producer, director and writer Steven Spielberg with its 2012 David O. Selznick Achievement Award.

The prize will be presented to Spielberg, who also is a principal partner of DreamWorks Studios, at the 23rd annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony Jan. 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The Selznick Achievement Award recognizes a producer's outstanding body of work in motion pictures. It has been bestowed in past years upon Stanley Kramer, Saul Zaentz, Clint Eastwood, Billy Wilder, Brian Grazer, Jerry Bruckheimer, Roger Corman, Laura Ziskin, Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall, John Lasseter and Scott Rudin.

"As one of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Steven's continued genius, imagination and fearlessness in the world of feature-film entertainment is unmatched in this industry," Producers Guild Awards co-chairs Paula Wagner and Michael Manheim said in a statement Wednesday. "Steven has produced some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema and we have no doubt he will continue to bring thrilling adventures, emotionally moving story-lines, thought-provoking characters and cult classics to audiences across the globe. We're extremely proud to recognize Steven's contributions to the producing craft as well as the entire film industry with the David O. Selznick honor."

"David O. Selznick is a true legend in the producing field, and I am tremendously honored to be associated with his name and to join the company of so many distinguished filmmakers who have received this accolade," said Spielberg. "I am extremely grateful to the Producers Guild."

Spielberg's films include "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," the Indiana Jones franchise, "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "The Color Purple," "Amistad" and "Empire of the Sun."