Steve McQueen gets top honour at BFI London Film Festival

Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women has been named best picture at the London Film Festival, as 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen got its highest honour

The filmmaker, who already has a Turner Prize and Oscar under his belt, was presented with the BFI Fellowship prize at the annual awards ceremony for his "outstanding contribution to film culture".

Speaking to the British Film Institute ahead of the ceremony, McQueen said: "I first walked into the BFI library and cinema 28 years ago.

"To think that I will now be a Fellow and honorary member, with such a distinguished list of people, is mind-blowing. I'm humbly honoured."

Image Caption:McQueen received the BFI Fellowship award from Michael Fassbender

The British director was presented with the accolade by actor Michael Fassbender, who worked with him in his three award-winning films Hunger, Shame and 12 Years A Slave.

Fassbender called McQueen "a rarity - both a sensitive and dangerous man".

McQueen is the first black director or producer to receive the honour. 

The festival has sought this year to encourage diversity in the film industry, opening with Amma Asante's A United Kingdom, a story of interracial love and politics inspired by real events.

It was also the first time a black female director has held the prestigious opening slot at the festival.

Image Caption:Certain Women follows the shared stories of three women in Montana

The night's top prize went to writer-director Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, a subtle drama which follows intersecting narratives shared by three women in Montana.

The jury, headed by Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, called it "a humane and poignant story that calibrates with startling vulnerability and delicate understatement the isolation, frustrations and loneliness of lives unlived in a quiet corner of rural America".

The film stars this year's proclaimed 'Queen of Cannes' Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and Laura Dern.

Image Caption:The cast of 'Free Fire' revelled in the chance to wear 1970s outfits, chest and facial hair

The festival wrapped up on Sunday with Ben Wheatley's 1970s-set comic thriller Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

The film follows an arms deal between two gangs that goes wrong, leading to a shootout in a derelict warehouse in Boston.

Peaky Blinders star Murphy joked that the the only thing he did to prepare for the role was grow a 1970s handlebar moustache.

"I grew a moustache," he said. "That was it. I miss it terribly now but it was basically a woman-repellent."

Steve McQueen gets top honour at BFI London Film Festival

Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women has been named best picture at the London Film Festival, as 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen got its highest honour

The filmmaker, who already has a Turner Prize and Oscar under his belt, was presented with the BFI Fellowship prize at the annual awards ceremony for his "outstanding contribution to film culture".

Speaking to the British Film Institute ahead of the ceremony, McQueen said: "I first walked into the BFI library and cinema 28 years ago.

"To think that I will now be a Fellow and honorary member, with such a distinguished list of people, is mind-blowing. I'm humbly honoured."

Image Caption:McQueen received the BFI Fellowship award from Michael Fassbender

The British director was presented with the accolade by actor Michael Fassbender, who worked with him in his three award-winning films Hunger, Shame and 12 Years A Slave.

Fassbender called McQueen "a rarity - both a sensitive and dangerous man".

McQueen is the first black director or producer to receive the honour. 

The festival has sought this year to encourage diversity in the film industry, opening with Amma Asante's A United Kingdom, a story of interracial love and politics inspired by real events.

It was also the first time a black female director has held the prestigious opening slot at the festival.

Image Caption:Certain Women follows the shared stories of three women in Montana

The night's top prize went to writer-director Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, a subtle drama which follows intersecting narratives shared by three women in Montana.

The jury, headed by Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, called it "a humane and poignant story that calibrates with startling vulnerability and delicate understatement the isolation, frustrations and loneliness of lives unlived in a quiet corner of rural America".

The film stars this year's proclaimed 'Queen of Cannes' Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and Laura Dern.

Image Caption:The cast of 'Free Fire' revelled in the chance to wear 1970s outfits, chest and facial hair

The festival wrapped up on Sunday with Ben Wheatley's 1970s-set comic thriller Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

The film follows an arms deal between two gangs that goes wrong, leading to a shootout in a derelict warehouse in Boston.

Peaky Blinders star Murphy joked that the the only thing he did to prepare for the role was grow a 1970s handlebar moustache.

"I grew a moustache," he said. "That was it. I miss it terribly now but it was basically a woman-repellent."

Steve McQueen gets top honour at BFI London Film Festival

Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women has been named best picture at the London Film Festival, as 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen got its highest honour

The filmmaker, who already has a Turner Prize and Oscar under his belt, was presented with the BFI Fellowship prize at the annual awards ceremony for his "outstanding contribution to film culture".

Speaking to the British Film Institute ahead of the ceremony, McQueen said: "I first walked into the BFI library and cinema 28 years ago.

"To think that I will now be a Fellow and honorary member, with such a distinguished list of people, is mind-blowing. I'm humbly honoured."

Image Caption:McQueen received the BFI Fellowship award from Michael Fassbender

The British director was presented with the accolade by actor Michael Fassbender, who worked with him in his three award-winning films Hunger, Shame and 12 Years A Slave.

Fassbender called McQueen "a rarity - both a sensitive and dangerous man".

McQueen is the first black director or producer to receive the honour. 

The festival has sought this year to encourage diversity in the film industry, opening with Amma Asante's A United Kingdom, a story of interracial love and politics inspired by real events.

It was also the first time a black female director has held the prestigious opening slot at the festival.

Image Caption:Certain Women follows the shared stories of three women in Montana

The night's top prize went to writer-director Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, a subtle drama which follows intersecting narratives shared by three women in Montana.

The jury, headed by Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, called it "a humane and poignant story that calibrates with startling vulnerability and delicate understatement the isolation, frustrations and loneliness of lives unlived in a quiet corner of rural America".

The film stars this year's proclaimed 'Queen of Cannes' Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams and Laura Dern.

Image Caption:The cast of 'Free Fire' revelled in the chance to wear 1970s outfits, chest and facial hair

The festival wrapped up on Sunday with Ben Wheatley's 1970s-set comic thriller Free Fire starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer and Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

The film follows an arms deal between two gangs that goes wrong, leading to a shootout in a derelict warehouse in Boston.

Peaky Blinders star Murphy joked that the the only thing he did to prepare for the role was grow a 1970s handlebar moustache.

"I grew a moustache," he said. "That was it. I miss it terribly now but it was basically a woman-repellent."

Trump wants end to 'unfunny' Saturday Night Live after skit

Donald Trump has accused Saturday Night Live of a "hit job" on his reputation after Alec Baldwin's portrayal of the presidential candidate in a parody sketch.

Baldwin and Ghostbusters star Kate McKinnon reprised their roles as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the latest in a series of episodes poking fun at the rivals.

Baldwin's Trump started by comparing himself to Bill Clinton, accusing him of abusing women - which prompted a comeback from McKinnon's Clinton.

"Mistresses? Bill, how could you? Oh, how will I go on with this debate? I'll never be able to remember my facts and figures now. Oh, Donald, no! Get real, I'm made of steel," McKinnon screams cheers from the live audience.

Ben Needham was killed in accident near farmhouse, police believe

Police investigating the disappearance of Ben Needham believe the toddler died in an accident near a farmhouse in the Greek island of Kos.

Police gave their briefing after a three-week dig for clues on the island, where Ben was last seen on 24 July 1991.

"It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing," said South Yorkshire Police Detective Inspector Jon Cousins.

He said police had discovered an item believed to have been in Ben's possession at the time of his disappearance.

The item, which was not identified, was shown to some of Ben's family.

Image Caption:Digger driver Konstantinos Barkas died last year

The investigation team launched the digging operation after new information suggested that 21-month-old Ben may have died on the day he disappeared, run over by a local digger driver who was clearing land behind the farmhouse owned by the Needhams.

The driver, Konstantinos Barkas, died of cancer last year - prompting a new witness to come forward with fresh evidence.

The British officers, along with search volunteers from Greece, finished removing and sifting through the last mounds of soil at an old landfill tip on Sunday afternoon.

The Needham family had hoped that investigators might finally be able to provide them with a definitive answer surrounding the toddler's disappearance.

Image Caption:Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, has praised police efforts to find her son

Investigators have excavated hundreds of tonnes of soil and other debris from the two locations on Kos, which are a quarter of a mile apart. 

During the recent excavation work, officers dismantled a small annex on the side of the farmhouse to search the foundations for any clues.

North Korea's 'launch of ballistic missile ends in failure'

North Korea is believed to have unsuccessfully attempted to fire a powerful mid-range missile.

South Korea and the United States said the launch ended in failure after the projectile reportedly exploded soon after lift-off.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the attempt was made near an airport in the North's North Pyongan province.

US Strategic Command said it detected the activity just after midday on Saturday Korea time.

UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from using ballistic missile technology, and this latest test came as the UN Security Council is debating fresh sanctions on Pyongyang following its fifth nuclear test in September.

The action has brought harsh criticism from the US.

"We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman.

"Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad. We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation."

He said the US would raise concerns at the UN.

Anti-porn ex-Playmate Pamela Anderson attacks Trump over comments

Pamela Anderson has attacked Donald Trump during a speech in which she calls on people not to use pornography.

The former Baywatch star - who recently wrote an opinion piece about porn for the Wall Street Journal - hit out at the Presidential candidate's comments about women.

A recording emerged last week in which the Republican nominee bragged about being able to grope women because of his fame.

Speaking to the Oxford Union, Anderson said: "It's terrible and I've heard other men speak that way, even about me, and it cannot be swept under the rug because how we deal with it - how he is ... it's not okay.

"So I was completely offended, like everybody else, and I don't like the way he said it was just locker room behaviour because I don't believe that's true of the men who do speak that way.

"It's got to stop, you've got to have respect for women, behind closed doors, around women and around men."

The 49-year-old former Playmate was taking part in a joint event with American orthodox Rabbi and prolific author Shmuley Boteach.

The unlikely duo are in the UK for a series of talks for an awareness campaign they are calling "Take The Pledge", advising people to be aware of the consequences of what they are exposing themselves to.

She said she was aware her criticism of porn might seem hypocritical but that she was speaking out because "I am afraid that the world might forget how to make love".

Talking about some of the material she had seen online, she told the packed chamber: "It is not fine to be slapped, called a whore and spat on - it's sick, it's hurtful, it's demeaning and it's terrible, terrible sex."

Anderson has said she is working on a book called The Sensual Revolution about the increasing disconnection between sensuality and sexuality.

On Friday, she was seen delivering a vegan lunch and a copy of designer Vivienne Westwood's diaries to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy.

She has been a campaigner for animal rights for many years.