Portuguese film director, Manoel de Oliveira, was awarded on Tuesday, December 10, the Légion d’Honneur (Grand Officier de la Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur) one of the highest honors bestowed  by the Government of France.

The ceremony, presided by France’s ambassador to Portugal, Jean-Francois Blarel, took place at the Museu da Fundação Serralves, in Porto city, the filmmaker’s birth town. Oliveira, who is only the fourth Portuguese person to receive the honor, celebrates his 106th birthday today, December 11.

His latest work, “O Velho do Restelo” [The Old Man of Restelo] was to be screened in Lisbon on his birthday, after having premiered at the 2014 Venice Film Festival.

Manoel de Oliveira is considered the world’s oldest working film director and the only filmmaker whose active career has spanned from the silent era to the digital age. Having started his career in 1927, he directed his first film in 1931.

The French Légion d’Honneur, established in 1802 by Napoléon Bonaparte, is awarded by the President of the Republic of France, to honor “by way of exception” illustrious individuals with distinguished careers.

More about Manoel de Oliveira @ IMDb