Chinese director Zhang Yimou has received the Art Directors Guild's coveted Outstanding Contributions to Cinematic Imagery Award for his highly acclaimed movie House of Flying Daggers.

It is the first time that this American award has gone to a foreign language filmmaker.

World celebrated director Quentin Tarantino presented the trophy to Zhang at the ceremony, which took place in the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Cinematic Imagery Award is a prize given to an individual whose work is considered to have richly enhanced the visual aspects of the movie-going experience.

The Art Directors Guild has been annually giving credit in seven categories of film, television and commercials since 1996.

(CRI February 16, 2005)