British Film Institute Fellowship

The British Film Institute (BFI) is a charitable organisation established in 1933, based in the United Kingdom.

It has awarded its Fellowship title to individuals in "recognition of their outstanding contribution to film or television culture" and is considered the highest accolade presented by the Institute:[1] British actor John Hurt said the award was "the highest honour possible".

[3] Awards are not presented every year, but every award ceremony has been held in London, on occasion at the National Film Theatre as part of the BFI London Film Festival.

[2] The inaugural ceremony honoured six recipients of the Fellowship: French film director Marcel Carné, British film directors David Lean, Michael Powell, Hungarian screenwriter Emeric Pressburger, Indian film-maker Satyajit Ray and American director and actor Orson Welles.

There have been two African winners, both film directors, Malian Souleymane Cissé and Senegalese Ousmane Sembène while one recipient has come from each of Japan, India, Iran, Canada, and Australia.

David Lean received the Fellowship in 1983
A man in a dark suit and striped shirt with a plain tie and a handkerchief in his breast pocket
American Orson Welles was one of the six inaugural recipients of the Fellowship in 1983.
Dame Maggie Smith received the Fellowship in 1992
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Irish actress Maureen O'Hara was awarded the Fellowship in 1993.
A man with grey hair in a dark suit, white shirt and grey tie, wearing glasses
Martin Scorsese became a BFI Fellow in 1995.
Dame Judi Dench became a Fellow in 2011
Cate Blanchett was a 2015 recipient of the Fellowship.
Spike Lee was a 2023 recipient of the Fellowship