Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter Constantine Alexander Payne was sworn in as a Greek citizen at the Consulate General of Greece in Boston on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias released a statement on social media celebrating the event.

“Oscar-winning director, screenwriter, and producer Constantine Alexander Payne is now a Greek citizen. He has proven once again that he does not forget his family’s heritage,” stated the minister.

Payne was born and raised in the United States to parents of Greek heritage. He has twice won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and has been nominated three times for Best Director.

He is best known for the films Sideways, The Descendants, and Nebraska.

This article was previously published at ekathimerini.com.