Al Pacino receives BFI Fellowship

Leading lights from the worlds of film, theatre and television gathered at the Corinthia Hotel London this evening to see legendary actor and director Al Pacino receive a BFI Fellowship – the highest accolade the UK’s lead organisation for film can award.

One of the world’s most popular and iconic stars of stage and screen, Pacino receives a BFI Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding outstanding achievement in film. The presentation was made this evening during an exclusive dinner hosted by BFI Chair, Greg Dyke and BFI CEO, Amanda Nevill, sponsored by Corinthia Hotel London and supported by Moët & Chandon, the official champagne partner of the Al Pacino BFI Fellowship Award Dinner.

This is such a great honour... the BFI is a wonderful thing, how it keeps films alive… it’s an honour to be here and receive this. I’m overwhelmed – people I’ve adored have received this award. I appreciate this so much, thank you.”Al Pacino, speaking during the presentation

A true icon, Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors the world has ever seen, and a visionary director of stage and screen. His extraordinary body of work has made him one of the most recognisable and best-loved stars of the big screen, whose films enthral and delight audiences across the globe. We are thrilled to honour such a legend of cinema, and we thank the Corinthia Hotel London and Moët & Chandon for supporting this very special occasion.”BFI Chair, Greg Dyke

Alongside BFI Chair Greg Dyke and BFI CEO Amanda Nevill, the Corinthia’s magnificent Ballroom was packed with talent from the worlds of film, theatre and television for Al Pacino’s BFI Fellowship presentation. Guests included actor, screenwriter, and director, Richard E. Grant; director Terry Gilliam; actor John Hurt; Bond producer Barbara D Broccoli; actor Ian Holm; director Tom Hooper; fashion designer Ozwald Boateng; playwright David Hare with wife, Nicole Farhi; actor, author, playwright and theatre director Steven Berkoff; actor Joan Collins; director Terence Davies; actor Felicity Dean; director and actor, Dexter Fletcher; artist and director Julian Schnabel; director Asif Kapadia; actor and comedian John Sessions; composer, record producer and songwriter Magnus Fiennes; producer Barry Navidi; and producer Paula Wagner.

The BFI Fellowship is awarded by the BFI Board of Governors and it is presented for outstanding achievement in film and television. Previous recipients include Sir Christopher Lee, Ralph Fiennes, David Cronenberg, Dame Judi Dench, Isabelle Huppert, Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese and Orson Welles. Since 1983, a total of 78 Fellowships have been awarded – the full list is a roll-call of the leading lights of the world of film and television.

Pacino’s illustrious career has (so far) produced over 40 film roles, spanning from classics such as The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974 & 1990), Scarface (1983) and Serpico (1973) to Sea of Love (1989), Scent of a Woman (1992) and Insomnia (2001). Pacino’s most recent film appearances have been in Manglehorn (2014) and The Humbling (2014), which both world premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in August.

Al Pacino studied acting first at the Herbert Berghof Studio, then under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York (where he is currently co-president alongside Ellen Burstyn and Harvey Keitel). The recipient of countless awards, including an Oscar, five Golden Globes, two Emmys, a BAFTA and two Tonys, Pacino’s acting talents are world-renowned.

Pacino is also an acclaimed director, with credits including Looking for Richard (1996), Chinese Coffee (2000) and recently Wilde Salomé (2011) and Salomé (2013), which along with a Q&A that saw Pacino and co-star Jessica Chastain in conversation with Stephen Fry, were this week simulcast from BFI Southbank to over 200 cinemas across the UK.