Director Mike Nichols will receive the American Film Institute's 38th AFI Life Achievement Award, one of the highest honors in the movie industry.

Nichols ("The Graduate," "Catch-22," "Charlie Wilson's War") will receive his honor next summer.

"Genius is a word oft overused in our world, but surely not in the case of Mike Nichols," said Howard Stringer, the chairman of the AFI board of trustees. "His artistry has spanned the mediums of modern storytelling -- movies, television and the stage -- and his gifts across five decades continue to inspire artists and audiences alike."

Nichols has won many industry honors for his work in film, TV and theater, including an Oscar for "The Graduate," several Emmys, multiple Tony awards and a Grammy.