Pedro Almodóvar is to receive the 2013 European Achievement in World Cinema award, it was announced today. The 63 year old director of such acclaimed work as Bad Education, Talk To Her and The Skin I Live In will be given the prize in December. "I am very thankful for this award. From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators," he said, perhaps referring to the fact that Antonio Banderas, who has starred i many of his films, is a previous recipient.
Almodóvar said that despite the increasing success he has enjoyed in recent years he has no intention of moving to Hollywood, citing, among other things, the lack of interest there in films that feature strong women. "The studios have forgotten that women are fascinating," he asserted. Throughout his work, including the likes of Volver and Broken Embraces, he has featured strong female characters in leading or supporting roles.
