Paul Hogan receives Australia's highest film award

Paul Hogan has been awarded one of the highest honours in the Australian film industry at a ceremony in Sydney, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry.

The Crocodile Dundee star received the Longford Lyell Award for outstanding contribution to the Australian screen from actor Shane Jacobson today, at this week's 6th AACTA Awards in Sydney.

He said it felt "mystifying" to receive the honour and was awestruck to be introduced by AACTA president and Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush.

"He's (Rush) an an actor. I only play one character," Hogan said.

"Crocodile Dundee started out as a sketch, it was supposed to be Hoges in New York, a fluke," he said.

Cate Blanchett was last year's award recipient, with previous winners including Geoffrey Rush, Jack Thompson and director Peter Weir.

The AACTA Awards have been honouring the country's TV and film industry for six years as the continuum of the AFI Awards, which began in 1958.

The main awards ceremony will take place in Sydney tomorrow.