HOLLYWOOD: Veteran actor Gene Hackman The French Connection has been selected as the recipient of the 2003 Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field,"

The award, voted by the board of directors of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will be presented to Hackman at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards, to be held on 19 January. In the US it will telecast live on NBC (8-11 pm EST). In India it will probably air on one of the Star channels live in the morning on 20 January. The event will take place in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Golden Globe nominations in the film and television categories will be announced on 19 December.

An official release informs that Hackman won a Golden Globe last year in the comedy category for The Royal Tennenbaums. Last year Harrison Ford was the recepient of the Cecil B. DeMille award.