Christopher Nolan will receive an honorary award
Christopher Nolan, director of "Oppenheimer," has been awarded the BFI Fellowship, the British Film Institute's most prestigious honor.
The BFI acknowledges Nolan's significant contributions to cinema, praising him as a globally influential and successful director. His work, known for pushing the boundaries of large-scale filmmaking, also shows deep respect for cinema's history and the cinematic experience.
Nolan will receive the fellowship at the BFI chair's dinner in London on Feb. 14, 2024, hosted by BFI Chair Tim Richards. The following day includes an "In Conversation" event at BFI Southbank and a special introduction to "Tenet" at BFI Imax. During his London visit, Nolan will also tour the BFI National Archive's Conservation Centre.
Nolan's filmography, including "Memento," "Batman Begins," "Inception," and "Dunkirk," has earned 11 Oscars and amassed over $6.1 billion globally. "Oppenheimer," released in July, grossed $950 million, marking Nolan's most successful film in the U.K. and Ireland with £58.7 million ($74.6 million) in revenue. A November re-release in U.S. Imax theaters made "Oppenheimer" the fourth highest-grossing Imax release globally. The film will return to BFI Imax in January 2024.
Nolan expressed his excitement and gratitude for the BFI Fellowship, recognizing the institute's commitment to preserving cinema's past and future.
Tim Richards praised Nolan as a preeminent 21st-century filmmaker, highlighting his global box office success, dedication to the cinematic experience, and efforts in film preservation through The Film Foundation and the Morf Foundation's support of the BFI's photochemical work.
Nolan, a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire since 2019, boasts an impressive record of five Oscar nominations, five BAFTA nominations, and six Golden Globe nominations. This year, he received the NATO Spirit of the Industry award and the Sundance Institute's inaugural Trailblazer Award.
Notable BFI Fellows include David Lean, Bette Davis, Akira Kurosawa, Ousmane Sembène, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Orson Welles, Thelma Schoonmaker, Derek Jarman, Martin Scorsese, Satyajit Ray, Yasujirō Ozu, Tilda Swinton, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, and Spike Lee.
