The Academy Award-winning director is honored by France's president.

STEVEN SPIELBERG has been named an officer in the French Legion of Honor for his work documenting the Holocaust and efforts to help Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, The Associated Press reports. 

Spielberg was given the honor, the highest award given by France, during a ceremony in Paris with President NICOLAS SARKOZY. The award was created in 1802 by NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

The 61-year-old director was in France for the Cannes Film Festival, where his new film 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' premiered.