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Mike Leigh: BAFTA Fellowship in 2015

2 February 2015

Find out more about Mike Leigh's BAFTA Fellowship.

Event: EE British Academy Film AwardsDate: Sun 8 February 2015Venue: Royal Opera HouseHost: Stephen Fry-Area: CEREMONY

Event: EE British Academy Film AwardsDate: Sun 8 February 2015Venue: Royal Opera HouseHost: Stephen Fry-Area: PRESS ROOMBAFTA/Richard Kendal



At the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 8 February, Mike Leigh received the BAFTA Fellowship. Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games. The award was presented by Sally Hawkins and Imelda Staunton. 

Previously Fellows honoured for their work in film include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, and Judi Dench. Helen Mirren received the Fellowship at last year’s Film Awards. See the full list of previous recipients >

Leigh's award-winning career features three BAFTA wins, a BAFTA Special Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema and a John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence from BAFTA Los Angeles last year, as well as a further 11 BAFTA nominations. 

What a privilege to be honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship. I'm moved, delighted and surprised.

Discussing the Fellowship, BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry stated: that "Mike Leigh is one of Britain’s finest filmmakers, so I am delighted that we will honour him with the Fellowship, recognising his outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, at this Sunday’s EE British Academy Film Awards. He is a true innovator, an artist and an exceptional filmmaker, which is why last year the Film Committee voted unanimously to award him the Fellowship, the highest honour that BAFTA bestows.”

BAFTA

Leigh with Timothy Spall in 1996, after receiving the Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema award

The British Academy Awards in 1997BAFTA/Doug McKenzie

Leigh in 1997, after winning Outstanding British Film and Original Screenplay for Secrets & Lies (1996). 

BAFTA Los Angeles Jaguar Britannia Awards Presented By BBC America And United Airlines - ShowGetty Images

In 2014, after receiving the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing in 2014. 

Leigh's feature films include the BAFTA-nominated Naked and BAFTA-winning Secrets & Lies (for Outstanding British Film and Original Screenplay), Career Girls, Topsy-Turvy, All Or Nothing, Vera Drake (for which he won the BAFTA for Director), Happy-Go-Lucky and Another Year. Most recently he has written and directed Mr. Turner, which received four nominations at this year's EE British Academy Film Awards.


Mike Leigh's most memorable BAFTA moments photo gallery >