Bollywood giant Yash Chopra named top Asian filmmaker

Indian producer and director Yash Chopra attends an international jury photocall for the 56th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 9, 2006.

SEOUL (Reuters Life!) - Influential Bollywood director and producer Yash Chopra will be honored as filmmaker of the year at one of Asia's biggest film events, South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, organizers said on Thursday.

Chopra will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, considered one of the top cinema honors in Asia, during the festival that runs from October 8 to 16 in the South Korean southern port city.

"As the most influential producer and director in India over decades, Chopra has made remarkable contributions to establish Bollywood cinema on the global stage," the organizers said in a statement.

The festival will screen several films he directed or produced, including the 1991 movie "Lamhe", also known as "Moments."

Chopra is the founder of Yash Raj Films, described by festival organizers as India's largest film production company.

Previous winners are the award have included Hong Kong actor and producer Andy Lau and the late Taiwanese director Edward Yang.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz, editing by Miral Fahmy)