Aussie director George Miller will be awarded France's most prestigious artistic award, the Order of Arts and Letters.
Miller will receive the award, known in France as Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by French ambassador to Australia Michel Filhol at the opening of the French Film Festival in Sydney on Tuesday night.
The director of iconic films such as Mad Max, Babe and Happy Feet will join an elite group of artists outside France to receive the award, including Martin Scorcese, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg.
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The Order of France was established over fifty years ago to recognise those who have made significant contributions to the arts.
Another recent recipient of the award, French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who made Amelie and Delicatessen, will attend the event before his latest film Micmacs opens the festival.
He had lunch with Miller on Monday and said he admired the Australian director's work.
"I am a big, huge fan about Babe and Babe 2," Jeunet told AAP.
"Before coming here we watched Babe 2 and I cried, because I love so much animals and the kindness of the animals, it's so emotional. I love that."
Jeunet said the award was great recognition for Miller, who will also celebrate his 65th birthday the following day.
"It's a very great honour (for those in) the arts - literature, painting or cinema of course," Jeunet said.
Jeunet will also visit Melbourne during his Australian trip, and meet with another local director he thinks highly of.
"I am very happy because today I met Mr George Miller and in Melbourne I will meet Adam Elliott, the director of Mary & Max," he said.
"I have a great admiration for him."
