Werner Herzog is to head the Berlin Film Festival jury

Werner Herzog is the director of more than 50 films

German director Werner Herzog will head the jury at the Berlin Film Festival next year, organisers have announced.

Herzog, 67, will head the international panel that selects the winners of the coveted Golden and Silver Bear prizes.

Best known for films like Fitzcarraldo and Grizzly Man, he was nominated for the best documentary Oscar this year for Encounters at the End of the World.

Festival head Dieter Kosslick praised Herzog for making films that "convey the artistic strength of cinema."

"We are very pleased to have this outstanding director as jury president for the 60th anniversary of the festival."

Herzog's sequel to The Bad Lieutenant, with Nicolas Cage as an unconventional New Orleans police officer, was premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September.

At the same event he unveiled another work, the quirkily titled My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done.

The 60th Berlin Film Festival runs from 11 to 21 February 2010.

Last year's jury, headed by actress Tilda Swinton, gave the Golden Bear to Peruvian film The Milk of Sorrow.