WATERVILLE -- Actor, director, writer and producer John Turturro will be given the Mid-Life Achievement Award at this summer's Maine International Film Festival, scheduled for July 11-20.

Turturro, 51, is an award-winning actor who has appeared in more than 60 movies, including "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Do the Right Thing," Quiz Show," and "The Big Lebowski."

Festival Programmer Ken Eisen called Turturro an amazing presence, both on screen and in the director's seat.

"He's one of the strongest and most unique voices in the independent film world and one whose directing, writing and acting always bespeak a fierce, intelligent and adventurous curiosity -- attributes that we try to highlight every year in the films at the festival," Eisen said.

Turturro is an Emmy Award winner, Golden Globe nominee and received a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

The 11th annual festival, held at Railroad Square Cinema and the Waterville Opera House, features about 100 independent, foreign and Maine-made films and draws thousands of filmmakers, actors and movie enthusiasts to Waterville from all over the world.

Festival Director Shannon Haines said having Turturro at the festival this year is a huge opportunity to bring one of independent film's most important actors/directors to Waterville.

"He just gives us such a huge number of options," she said. "His body of work is immense."

While the lineup of Turturro films to be shown is still a work in progress, three films he directed are definite, according to Haines: "Illuminata"; "Mac"; and "Romance and Cigarettes," the latter of which is an off-beat musical starring Susan Sarandon, James Gandolfini, Christopher Walken and Kate Winslet.

"It's an amazing cast and it's a riot," Eisen said. "It's kind of a risque film in some ways. It's very inventive and original. I really love it. It's a wonderful film."

Others who have received Achievement awards at the film festival are actors Sissy Spacek Lili Taylor, Peter Fonda, Bud Cort and Ed Harris and directors Jonathan Demme, Terrence Malick, Jos Stelling and Walter Hill.

Turturro will be here for the latter part of the festival and will accept the award July 17, according to Haines.

"I couldn't be happier," she said of his being chosen for the award. "When I think of independent film, I think of John Turturro."

Turturro has appeared in several of Spike Lee's films and has worked extensively with the Coen Brothers, appearing in "Miller's Crossing," "Barton Fink" and "The Big Lebowski."

He received both the Cannes Film Festival award and Golden Globe nomination for "Quiz Show," a Robert Redford film.

Turturro wrote, directed and appears in "Mac" and "Illuminata," and won an Emmy for his portrayal of Adrian Monk's brother, Ambrose Monk, in the USA Network series, "Monk."

A Brooklyn native, Turturro is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz and received his master's degree in fine arts from Yale School of Drama. He is married to Katherine Borowitz, who starred in "Illuminata."

Eisen said that when he spoke with Turturro a couple of weeks ago about coming to Maine, Turturro was taking a break from doing a daily performance of a Samuel Beckett play in New York City. Turturro will fit in well in Waterville, Eisen said.

"He's very approachable, very friendly," Eisen said.

"There's no pretense about him."

Turturro also appeared in "The Color of Money," "The Good Shepherd," "Margot at the Wedding," "Anger Management," "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Jungle Fever."

Haines said Monday that this summer's festival will feature about 50 filmmakers -- more than at any previous festival. Filmmakers are coming from places such as Africa, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada.

"The program is definitely coming together and it's incredible," she said.

The event will include the annual Maine Student Film & Video Festival.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com