Hong Kong director Ann Hui is to be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 6th Asian Film Awards later.

Hui, who is widely regarded as a pioneer of the southern city's 'New Wave' of the 1970s and 1980s, is the first female director to receive the award from the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.

The 64-year-old is being light-hearted about the achievement and told a press interview that 'you have to receive lifetime achievement awards once you reach a certain age'.

Hui is famed for classics such as 'Song of the Exile' and her most recent work 'A Simple Life' which has received worldwide acclaim for her tale about the relationship between a young Hong Kong man and the servant who raised him.

Zhang Yimou is also up for nomination for best film and best director for 'The Flowers of War' and he goes head to head with Tsui Hark in both categories for 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3-D'.

Iranian film 'A Separation' which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is also up for nomination for the best director award.