John Hurt to be made BFI fellow

Hurt's films 44 Inch Chest and The Limits Of Control will premiere

John Hurt is to be made a fellow of the British Film Institute (BFI) at a new awards ceremony which will be part of this year's London Film Festival.

The actor, 69, who has starred in films including Alien, The Elephant Man and Midnight Express, said it was "the highest honour possible".

Malian director Souleymane Cisse will also be awarded the fellowship.

The best film prize will also be presented at the 28 October awards. The festival runs from 14 to 29 October.

Hurt, who is to appear in the next Harry Potter films, has two movies - 44 Inch Chest and The Limits Of Control - premiering at the festival while Cisse's Tell Me Who You Are will also have its UK premiere.

Singer Jarvis Cocker and actress Anjelica Huston are among members of the judging panel for best film.

Fantastic Mr Fox goes up against films including the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man, Abbie Cornish's Bright Star and Viggo Mortensen's The Road.

Other film festival awards include the Sutherland Trophy, "awarded to the maker of the most original and imaginative first feature screening in the festival".

The Grierson Award will be given to the best documentary while the inaugural best British newcomer award for writers, producers and directors will also be presented at the ceremony, which will be hosted by Paul Gambaccini.

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