PENELOPE Cruz will receive a Gotham Award Tribute at the 18th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards.

It recognises the Spanish beauty – now setting screens alight in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona – as one of the most versatile international actresses of today.

"Penelope's body of work embodies what is exciting and vibrant about film-making today, in particular independent film-making," said IFP's executive director Michelle Byrd.

Film-makers Gus Van Sant and Melvin Van Peebles will also be presented with tributes at the glitzy ceremony, which signals the official kick-off to the film awards season, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on December 12.