Veteran producer John Davis, whose credits include The Firm,Predator and Heartbreakers, is to receive the ShoWest 2004 Producerof the Year at the annual exhibitors convention in Las Vegas next month.

"With such box office winners as Paycheck and Daddy Day Care as his most recent releases and theupcoming Garfield andI Robot, which bothlook to be blockbusters, as his next, John Davis continues to be one of themost accomplished and flourishing producers in Hollywood," Mitch Neuhauser,co-managing director of ShoWest 2004, said in a statement.

"We are pleased to honor John for his current and past work andfor his incomparable talent for producing great motion pictures."

Aside from Garfield and I Robot, Davis' upcoming releases include the romantic comedy FirstDaughter and the actionthriller Alien Vs Predator.

His company Davis Entertainment is also in preparation on a remakeof the drama Flight Of The Phoenix to star Dennis Quaid, Miranda Otto and Tyrese.

David Entertainment's film andtelevision projects have earned more than $2bn worldwide.

The company currently has a first-look production deal at 20thCentury Fox and has more than 30 film projects in development with variousstudios.

ShoWest 2004runs in Las Vegas from Mar 22-25.