Bryan Brown, one of Australia’s most admired and respected actors, was today announced as this year’s recipient of the Australian Academy’s most prestigious award – the Longford Lyell Award.

The Award will be presented to Bryan at the 2018 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel on Wednesday 5 December at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, and telecast at 8:30pm on Channel 7.

“It’s an honour – thank you to the Academy,” said Bryan Brown. “I’m an Australian telling Australian stories and I love it.”

First presented in 1968, the Longford Lyell Award honours Australian film pioneerRaymond Longford and his partner in filmmaking and life, Lottie Lyell. The Award is the highest honour AACTA can bestow upon an individual and recognises a person who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia’s screen environment and culture.

“In the 38 years since Bryan received his first AFI Award, we have seen him firmly established as one of Australia’s most respected actors and, as one of our earliest performance winners, it is fitting that we honour Bryan this year as AFI | AACTA celebrates its 60th Anniversary,” said AFI | AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella.

“We are full of admiration for Bryan’s commitment to his craft, his role as a mentor to so many performers over the years and as an ambassador for the Australian screen industry. On behalf of AFI | AACTA, it is a pleasure to honour Bryan alongside so many of Australia’s great men and women of screen, and we look forward to seeing him honoured at the 2018 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel next Wednesday.”