The prestigious award was presented to a legendary film director at the Closing Ceremony of PÖFF 2023.

The festival director, Tiina Lokk, comments the decision:
"Throughout a directing career of over 40 years, he has established himself as a remarkable storyteller and character creator with impressively varied skills - equally competent in adapting beloved literature and popular video games, as well as creating captivating adventure films and intimate romantic comedies. His unique directing style is instantly recognisable, and his sense of humour is infectious. Therefore, we hold his works in high esteem."

Mike Newell is the director of popular films including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco, Love At Cholera Time, Great Expectations, and Dance with a Stranger.

81-year old Mike Newell is known for his admiration and respect towards the actors.
Hugh Grant, Robert Pattinson, Miranda Richardson... - all of them have started their careers in Newell's films. He is known first and foremost as a director of actors.
The director's latest, yet-to-be-released film, China Court, is based on Rumer Godden's novel of the same name, and only finished shooting in August. It is the story of a country manor house that unfolds through the fate of five generations of its owners.

Newell has also visited Estonia twice. In 2018, he gave a lecture on the use of music in film at PÖFF's Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event programme "Music Meets Film", and in 2019 he was on the jury of the main competition programme.

Newell received the award at the closing ceremony on Saturday, 18.11.2023.

Traditionally, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival hands out two Lifetime Achievement Awards: one to an Estonian filmmaker, the other to an international filmmaker. This year's Estonian winner is composer Rein Rannap.