HE is one of the most respected film directors in the world.

But after receiving his British Film Institute’s Fellowship at the 54th London Film Festival, Danny Boyle admitted he was “intimidated”

by being in the company of heavyweights such as Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood and Sir Michael Caine, all past recipients of the honour.

The Fellowship is the highest honour the British Film Institute can bestow.

He told The Bolton News: “There are a lot of prestigious people have had this award. I’m quite happy to feel like the runt of the litter.”

He added: “You should always remember this is probably the last one you’ll get — so you should enjoy them.”

The Radcliffe-born director received the accolade at an intimate ceremony at London’s Jerwood Hall.

The theatre and film producer and director Stephen Daldry, who presented the award, said Boyle had been responsible for “some of the most vivid British films in living memory”, and praised the “vital beating human heart” of his films.

Accepting the trophy, a tearful Boyle stressed the importance of theatre as a breeding ground for new British talent and said “we must protect theatre at all costs”

from any potential “savage cuts”

in funding.

He added that the essence of filmmaking was “to seek forgiveness rather than to ask permission”, and urged filmmakers to “be bold”.

He said: “Boldness has power and magic and genius in it — if you can dream of doing something, then do it.”

After the ceremony, the former Thornleigh Salesian College pupil said he could not have made any of his films without the support of a huge team of people.

“It’s wonderful the films we make have been held up by the BFI as something to aspire to,” he said, before emphasising his commitment to filmmaking in the UK.

Although his latest film, 127 Hours, was shot in Utah, the bulk of the work on the film was done in this country.

It was chosen to close the London Film Festival last night, following in the footsteps of Boyle’s Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, which was screened at the 2008 festival, making him the only director to have been asked to feature twice in a closing gala.

“You could joke that we tried to close it once and failed, so we’re here again,” he said.

Boyle’s sister, Maria, travelled from her home in Ramsbottom to the premiere of his new film. She said: “I am delighted for Danny and obviously very proud of his achievements.

“It is a special award because it recognises his contribution to the film industry across his eight films, right from the early work to the present day.

“Some very famous directors before him have received the award and I think he feels quite humbled to get in the same category as them. He’s been very modest.”