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'Mississippi Burning' director Parker to get BAFTA's highest honour on awards night

By: The Associated Press

Posted: 01/23/2013 2:04 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 01/23/2013 6:29 AM

File - British film director Alan Parker looks through a cinema door window prior to meeting the media in Prague in this Friday, March 28, 2008 file photo. Alan Parker, the much-lauded British director whose work includes “Midnight Express,” “Fame” and “Mississippi Burning,” is receiving the British Academy Film Awards’ highest honor. The 68-year-old will collect the BAFTA Fellowship at the London ceremony next month. While known for being outspoken, Parker said Tuesday Jan. 22 2013, that he'll be "gracious and thankful" on the big night rather than political. He tells The Associated Press, “you always worry, does that mean the end of my career, when you get this kind of thing _ but it’s very nice.” (AP Photo / CTK, Michal Dolezal, file) SLOVAKIA OUT

LONDON - Alan Parker, the lauded British director whose work includes "Midnight Express," ''Fame" and "Mississippi Burning," is to receive the British Academy Film Awards' highest honour.

The academy announced Wednesday that the 68-year-old will collect the BAFTA Fellowship at a London ceremony next month. While known for being outspoken, Parker says he'll be "gracious and thankful" on the big night, rather than political.

He tells The Associated Press, "you always worry, does that mean the end of my career, when you get this kind of thing — but it's very nice."

The BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee's other films include "Bugsy Malone," ''The Commitments" and "Evita."

Previous fellowship recipients include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Elizabeth Taylor.

The BAFTA Film Awards take place on Feb. 10 at London's Royal Opera House.

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