The Berlin International Film Festival will honor legendary German director Wim Wenders with a Golden Bear award for his life’s work.

On Feb. 12, 2015, Berlin will screen Wenders’ “The American Friend”  at the festival, part of a multi-film homage.

“In dedicating the homage to Wim Wenders, we honor one of the most noted contemporary auteurs. His cross-genre and multifaceted work as a filmmaker, photographer and author has shaped our living memory of cinema, and continues to inspire other filmmakers,” said Dieter Kosslick, director of the Berlin Festival.

Wenders has been arguably the most influential German director of his generation, his cinematic style influencing both art house and commercial filmmakers the world over. Some of his best-known works include the 1973 road movie Alice in the Cities, which was his international breakthrough, and Paris, Texas, which won the Palme d’Or in Cannes in 1994. Wings of Desire was remade as City of Angels in 1998, and starred Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan.

In addition to his feature films, Wenders has been a groundbreaking documentary filmmaker. His Oscar-nominated Buena Vista Social Club was the first-ever fully-digital documentary, and dance film Pina, which also picked up an Oscar nomination, was cutting edge in its use of 3D technology.

Wenders has been a tireless proselytizer for digital and 3D tech. His next feature, Every Thing Will Be Fine, is a 3D art house drama featuring Rachel McAdams, James Franco and Charlotte Gainsbourg.