Coen brothers win $1m Dan David Prize

Academy Award-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen have received the $1 million (£616,105) Dan David Prize from Israel's Tel Aviv University.

Appearing at the school on Sunday to accept the honour - which is given annually to scientists and artists - Joel told reporters that his and Ethan's mother Ren was born in Israel and had long encouraged her children to visit the country.

"Our mother tried to get us to come here for many, many years," he said. "But you know, life intervenes. We've been very busy."

His brother Ethan also rejected calls by celebrities including fellow director Ken Loach and musician Roger Waters for artists to boycott Israel until the country improves its treatment of Palestinians.

"It's people responding to real problems in a way that they think is appropriate," Ethan said. "We obviously don't share that opinion of how to deal with those problems."

In spite of their enthusiasm for the nation, the True Grit helmers played down suggestions that they will set their next film there, with Joel joking: "We're real ignoramuses about Israel."

Previous recipients of the Dan David Prize include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, former US Vice President Al Gore and ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

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Watch a video of the Dan David Prize ceremony below (A quick tribute to the Coens starts at 1:13:42. The Coens take the stage at 1:17:20):