US director Spike Lee awarded BFI Fellowship for outstanding contributions to cinema

THE British Film Institute (BFI) has announced that it will be honouring director, writer, actor, producer, and author Spike Lee with its highest honor, the BFI Fellowship.

The award will be presented to Lee at a celebratory event at BFI Southbank on February 13, hosted by BFI chair Tim Richards and BFI chief executive Ben Roberts. The event will include an in-depth on-stage Q&A with Lee and a screening of his film 'Summer of Sam.' 

In addition to receiving the BFI Fellowship, Lee will also be visiting teams at the BFI National Archive while in the United Kingdom. The teams have been working with Lee on a new 35mm print of 'Malcolm X,' which will premiere at the BFI's inaugural Film on Film Festival from June 8-11. Lee will also be giving a masterclass to young filmmakers while in the UK. 

BFI chair Tim Richards said, "I am honored and excited to be awarding Spike Lee the prestigious BFI Fellowship. Lee has such a distinctive voice as an auteur, unafraid to challenge ideas of race, gender and class throughout his career with his unique cinematic style.

"A true renaissance man and pioneer, he has excelled in so many art forms, staying original, fresh and as relevant to contemporary audiences as those who have enjoyed his work for over thirty years. I am delighted to be celebrating his enormous talent and individuality with a BFI Fellowship." 

Lee, for his part, said, "I'm blessed to live up to my ancestors' credo: 'deeds, not words.' I thank the BFI for helping me in continuing my generations of family legacy. Peace and love. Ya-dig? Sho-nuff." 

Previous recipients of the BFI Fellowship include Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker, Satyajit Ray, Tilda Swinton, David Lean, Steve McQueen, Akira Kurosawa, Orson Welles, Ridley Scott, Ousmane Sembène, Bernardo Bertolucci and Souleymane Cissé. 

The BFI Fellowship is a significant recognition for Spike Lee who, throughout his career, has been known for his unique and distinctive voice in cinema. He has tackled issues of race, gender, and class with a bold, unafraid approach and has been a true pioneer in the industry, consistently staying original, fresh, and relevant to audiences.

The BFI's decision to honor him with this award is a testament to his immense talent and contribution to the world of cinema. – The Vibes, January 29, 2023