Moviemaker QUENTIN TARANTINO is to be honored with a lifetime achievement award by bosses of the International Rome Film Festival ahead of the European premiere of DJANGO UNCHAINED in Italy next month (04Jan12).

Composer Ennio Morricone, who worked with the director on the acclaimed western, will present Tarantino with his latest accolade.

The filmmaker's new movie has strong Italian ties - as well as featuring Morricone's music, it was inspired by Sergio Corbucci's 1966 spaghetti western Django, which starred Franco Nero. Nero has a small role in Tarantino's film.