Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg will receive the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2009 Golden Globes Awards following the cancellation of this year's ceremony.

Organizers decided not to present the Jaws director with the honour for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field" at Sunday's stripped-down Golden Globes press conference.

Instead, Spielberg will be feted in front of his peers with a montage of his work at the 2009 ceremony.

The decision to cancel the televised event was made on Monday  after the Screen Actors Guild pledged its members would not cross the Writers Guild Of America's picket line.

The 65th annual Golden Globe Awards had been due to take place at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California. Instead, a news conference will take place to announce the winners of each category.