British film and theatre stars have toasted Al Pacino as the American actor and director was made a fellow of the British Film Institute (BFI).

The 74-year-old Godfather star follows British industry legends including Sir Michael Caine and the late Richard Attenborough in being awarded BFI Fellowship, its highest accolade for outstanding contribution to film.

Pacino accepted the honour from BFI chairman Greg Dyke in front of a star-studded audience including Richard E Grant, Terry Gilliam and John Hurt at the Corinthia Hotel in London.

Speaking during the presentation, Pacino said: "This is such a great honour. The BFI is a wonderful thing, how it keeps films alive. It's an honour to be here and receive this. I'm overwhelmed - people I've adored have received this award. I appreciate this so much, thank you."

Pacino's illustrious career includes the Godfather trilogy, Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon, while his latest appearances came in movies Manglehorn and The Humbling, which debuted last month in Venice. He also won an Oscar for best actor in 1993 for Scent Of A Woman.

And he had success behind the camera with 1996's Looking For Richard and Salome in 2013 among others.

Mr Dyke said: "A true icon, Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors the world has ever seen, and a visionary director of stage and screen. His extraordinary body of work has made him one of the most recognisable and best-loved stars of the big screen, whose films enthral and delight audiences across the globe.

"We are thrilled to honour such a legend of cinema."

Since its inception in 1983 the BFI Fellowship has been handed to 78 recipients, also including stars such as Dirk Bogarde, Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith and Laurence Olivier.