Does Britain - or anywhere else in the world - need yet another movie awards ceremony?

The controllers of ITV are so convinced that another gong show will attract ratings that they have allocated a prime time slot for the inaugural National Movie Awards, to be held in London on September 28th.

In marked contrast to the high- minded movies aimed at the Oscar voters, the films in contention for the new awards have been chosen on the basis of their commercial success in the UK.That explains why Judi Dench is nominated as best actress, not for her Oscar- nominated performance in Notes on a Scandal, but for Casino Royale, and why her fellow nominees are Megan Fox (for Transformers), Kirsten Dunst ( Spider-Man 3), Keira Knightley ( Pirates 3), Emma Watson ( Harry Potter 5) and Eva Green ( Casino Royale).

Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are on the best actor shortlist with Pirates stars Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, Tobey Maguire ( Spider-Man 3), Daniel Craig ( Casino Royale), Bruce Willis ( Die Hard 4.0) and Shia LaBeouf ( Transformers).