The idiosyncratic British-based director Terry Gilliam is to become the third film-maker to be honoured by the Raindance Film Festival with its annual Auteur Award, after Ken Loach and Guy Ritchie.

The festival says the honour will recognise the former Python’s “achievements in film-making and ongoing contribution” to the industry.

The award will be presented by the Raindance founder Elliot Grove at an event in London next week, a month ahead of this year’s festival.

Gilliam’s career moved from the animator and bit-part actor for Monty Python to the creator of such magical films as Time Bandits, Brazil, The Fisher King and Twelve Monkeys; Brazil earned him an Oscar nomination in the Original Screenplay category. But his more recent features, including The Brothers Grimm, Tideland and The Zero Theorem have been less well received.

Most recently, his long-awaited adaptation of The Man Who Killed Don Quixote closed Cannes to mixed reviews, but even after a twenty year development hell and several court cases to get the film made and screened, he still faced further legal action from a former producer of the film.

“The film industry needs the creativity and controversy Raindance provides,” Gilliam said. “So it goes without saying, I’m incredibly proud to be the recipient of The Auteur Award.”

“Terry has had, and continues to have, an outstanding forty four year career, magicking amazing visual stories from practically nowhere,” enthused Grove in announcing the honour. “Always unexpected, always surprising, always a delight. He’s been a supporter of Raindance from the very beginning and we’re thrilled to be able to honour and celebrate his contribution to UK film. Terry Gilliam – my hero!”

This year’s Raindance Film Festival runs from 26th September to 7th October – ending three days ahead of the opening night of the larger London Film Festival.