DANNY BOYLE and Mike Leigh, two of Britain’s best known film directors, are both in the running for the Best Film Award at this year’s BFI London Film Festival, after being included on the 11-strong shortlist .


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Slumdog Millionaire director Boyle’s entry is 127 Hours, a movie based on the real-life story of James Franco, who used a pen-knife after to cut-off his own arm after it became stuck between boulders on a climbing trip.

Leigh, famous for Life is Sweet and Happy-Go-Lucky, is in the shortlist with Another Year in which a happy London couple see the ups and downs of their single friends through the course of a year.

It’s probably not a clue as to the final destination of the LFF prize, but Boyle has also been handed a prestigious BFI fellowship.

“I am shocked, flattered and delighted to receive the fellowship on behalf of everyone who has helped me make the films, the successful ones and the not so successful ones, and on behalf of all the runts in every litter,” he said.

The BFI London Film Festival runs from 13-28 October.