Washington: India-born filmmaker Mira Nair has been selected for the Honorary Maverick Award to be presented at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 16 for her "independent vision and social activism."

The award was announced by the Woodstock Film Festival, which is beginning on October 13 with a collection of 120 films, panels, concerts and special events in Woodstock, New York, and neighbouring towns of Rhinebeck and Hunter.

The Maverick Award is the top prize at the festival which is given to an individual whose life and work is based on independent vision and social activism.

Festival director Meira Blaustein said Nair's work is honoured because she "fearlessly" combines independence and risk-taking with social consciousness.

The word Maverick -- one who defies convention and succeeds -- describes the Woodstock movement itself, which popularised anti-war and anti-establishment songs during the Vietnam war and now it has become a major movement.

This year's festival will kick off with an evening of a acoustic music by award-winner Bela Fleck and renowned bassist Edgar Meyer.

The award to Nair, acknowledged as an illustrious director, writer and producer, will be presented on October 16.

Past recipients of the Maverick Award include Woody Harrelson, Tim Robbins, D A Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus and Les Blank.

Nair recently directed the big-screen adaptation of "Vanity Fair," starring Reese Witherspoon. Her other films include "Salaam Bombay", which was nominated for Oscar for best foreign language film, "Mississippi Masala" and "Monsoon Wedding."