Fiennes given film body’s top honour

ACCLAIMED actor Ralph Fiennes is to be awarded a fellowship by the British Film Institute.

The star, whose latest film, Coriolanus, is tipped for Oscar recognition, will be given the BFI’s highest honour later this month.

Canadian film director David Cronenberg, behind movies such as Videodrome, Naked Lunch and Crash, will also be given a fellowship during the BFI London Film Festival.

Fiennes has starred in films including The End Of The Affair, The English Patient and Schindler’s List, as well as bringing to life evil Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series.

His version of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus – which he also directed – will be given a gala screening at the London Film Festival.

Fiennes said he was “extremely honoured and delighted” by the accolade, which will be handed out at the 2011 film festival awards at London’s LSO St Luke’s on 26 October.

Cronenberg said of his fellowship: “This is a monumental, in fact overwhelming, honour, and my being the first Canadian to receive it makes it all the sweeter. British cinema has been a potent inspiration for me, and to be associated with this particular group of film-makers is tremendously exhilarating.”

UK-backed films have a strong showing in the shortlist for best film, announced yesterday. They include Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna and Lynne Ramsay’s We Need To Talk About Kevin, as well as festival opener 360, and closing film The Deep Blue Sea.