American actor-film maker Clint Eastwood, 78, said he was « proud to be the first one to be honoured » at the brand-new Lyons Film Festival where he was awarded the 2009 Lumière Prize for his [...]

American actor-film maker Clint Eastwood, 78, said he was « proud to be the first one to be honoured » at the brand-new Lyons Film Festival where he was awarded the 2009 Lumière Prize for his entire work, last Saturday, which was personally handed to him by French film-director Bertrand Tavernier.
“We owe a lot to Auguste and Louis Lumière, and, as far as I am concerned, it is to them both that I owe 60 years of work!” he said jokingly as he received his prize : a copy of a film-boxset from the movie pioneers, the Lumière brothers.
“I fell in love with Lyons two years ago and I would like to thank Gérard Collomb, its mayor, for supporting this festival, which is great because there is no competition, no losers, no winners… except me” he said.
“I am proud to be the first person to be honoured here” Clint Eastwood added as he was given a standing ovation by some 4,000 people in the Amphithéâtre du Centre des Congrès.