Pedro Almodovar's career celebrated

Spanish moviemaker Pedro Almodovar was celebrated for his career achievements at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospective in London on Thursday.

Fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, Frost/Nixon screenwriter Peter Morgan and High Fidelity director Stephen Frears were all on hand to praise the guest of honour.

According to the Associated Press, Quentin Tarantino also appeared in a video message and hailed Almodovar as the contemporary director he admires most.

The Skin I Live In filmmaker admitted he was slightly surprised by the acceptance he has found in the industry, insisting, "My way of creating and producing and directing is so different from the big companies. I represent all the independent filmmakers who deserve recognition.

"For reasons I don't understand, (Hollywood) made an exception for me. Maybe it's because in my films a lot of things happen, and that entertains them."