Scorsese to get Golden Globes’ DeMille award

LOS ANGELES - Golden Globe organizers on Thursday said they will honor director Martin Scorsese with their Cecil B. DeMille award at their upcoming ceremony, signifying his contribution to entertainment.

Scorsese, director of classic films such as "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas" and Oscar and Golden Globe winner "The Departed," is widely considered among the best directors of his generation which gained notoriety in the 1970s.

But his contributions don't stop at making blockbuster movies. Earlier this decade, the 66-year-old director filmed a documentary series about music called "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Blues," and he founded non-profit organizations The Film Foundation and the World Cinema Foundation, which are dedicated to film preservation and restoration.

The Golden Globe Awards, which honor the year's best films, U.S. television shows, and performances, are given out by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in a gala ceremony held annually in Beverly Hills and seen on television in some 160 countries around the world.

Actress Vera Farmiga, who appeared in "The Departed," made the announcement Thursday at a press conference in Beverly Hills. For Scorsese, filmmaking is "a holy experience," she said.

"He has the power to rouse a crowd and bring them along on his holy mission," Farmiga said. "He considers it holy work, and cinema is his shrine. And he instills in the actors, in the crew, and everybody around him just what a powerful tool it is."

Past winners of the DeMille award include last year's recipient, Steven Spielberg, along with Warren Beatty, Anthony Hopkins and Michael Douglas.

Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which puts on the Globes, said that, for the first time, the Golden Globes will be broadcast live across the country, instead of tape-delayed on the West Coast.

"The entire country will find out our winners at the exact moment," he said.

The Golden Globes will also have a host for the first time since 1995. Comic actor Ricky Gervais, whom Berk called "a fabulous godsend," will host the show at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

The 67th Golden Globe Awards will take place on Jan. 17, and nominations for awards will be announced on Dec. 15.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Don't miss this on msnbc.com Entertainment In the end, ‘Jon & Kate’ too sad even for fans Tim Burton — the artist — is now on display Can word-of-mouth sell ‘The Road’? Fans either love or really hate ‘New Moon’ Oscar season nears, but where's the buzz? Devoted 'Twihards' get their fix online

MORE FROM MORE NEWS AND OTHER FEATURES

Will Ferrell is Hollywood's most overpaid star

Will Ferrell is Hollywood's most overpaid star ‘New Moon’ takes in $142.8 million at box office Cage uncuffs inner cop for ‘Bad Lieutenant’ Viacom wins rights to Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ 15 documentary features make Oscar’s short list Hollywood rethinks use of pricey A-list actors ‘Mormon Proposition’ looks at Prop. 8 debate Bacall, Corman receive early Oscars ‘Gidget’ director Paul Wendkos dies at age 84 End is near as Hollywood does the apocalypse   Add More news and other features headlines to your news reader: