Christopher Lee Receives BFI Fellowship

Sir Christopher Lee has been celebrating news of his upcoming BFI Fellowship with London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The Fellowship will be presented at the 2013 BFI London Film Festival Awards on Saturday 19 October at Banqueting House, Whitehall.
BFI Festival Director and Head of Cinemas Clare Stewart announced the complete jury lineup for the awards as the Mayor joined the BFI team in welcoming the filmmaking talent to London.
"A BFI Fellowship is awarded to individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to film or television," according to the Institute.
Last year, the Fellowship was presented to Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton. In 2011, it was awarded to David Cronenberg and Ralph Fiennes.
BFI Chief Executive Amanda Nevill says: "The BFI Fellowship is awarded to those at the pinnacle of their profession. It is a truly illustrious moment to be honouring Sir Christopher Lee for his enormous and unique contribution to film during a Festival that is committed to excellence."
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, added: "Congratulations to Sir Christopher on being awarded this distinguished accolade for a film career that has been genuinely iconic. As the BFI London Film Festival gets underway, with a wonderful array of films from around the world, it's a good time to celebrate great British film and film talent.
"London is one of the top three production centres in the world and at the centre of a dynamic and creative sector that is hugely important for our economy, so I'm delighted to welcome all the visiting filmmakers, industry professionals, as well as cinephiles, to this exciting festival where they can make new contacts, do business and see great films."
Sir Christopher Lee commented: "It is a great privilege to be included amongst such a distinguished group of predecessors who have received this Award from the BFI."
Sir Christopher Lee was knighted in 2009 for services to drama and to charity.
Boasting more than 250 acting credits for film and television, he became a star in the mid-'50s playing Frankenstein's creature, then the title role of Dracula for Hammer Films.
He has starred as Mycroft Holmes in Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, as Lord Summerisle in cult classic The Wicker Man, as Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun and was also a long-time collaborator with the late Spanish director, Jesus Franco.
BFI will also be honouring Sir Christopher by screening several of his most iconic performances during the upcoming BFI blockbuster season GOTHIC: The Dark Heart of Film.
The Mayor's office, through the capital's film and media agency Film London, has supported the BFI London Film Festival since 2004.
Image: Sir Christopher Lee with (left to right) Clare Stewart, Boris Johnson and Amanda Neville (courtesy of the BFI archive)
www.bfi.org.uk
(IT/JP)