Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is set to be honoured for his contribution to cinema at the upcoming Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California.

The Titanic star will attend a special ceremony on February 1 to receive the coveted American Riviera Award, which recognises influential artists in Hollywood.

A statement from the event's executive director, Roger Durling, States: "We are thrilled to be honouring Leonardo DiCaprio with the American Riviera Award, in a year where he has shown us another layer of his immeasurable talent.

"His performance in Django Unchained reaffirms that he is the most relevant actor of this generation."

DiCaprio follows in the footsteps of previous recipients including Sandra Bullock, Annette Bening, Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Mickey Rourke.