BRITAIN: In what could be a trial run for the Oscars, the last Lord of the Rings was declared Best Film on Sunday night at the BAFTAS, the British film industry's big night of the year.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King landed four BAFTAs at the glittering London awards ceremony, which augurs well for its chances of landing Hollywood's ultimate accolade.
But Peter Jackson, the New Zealand director of the fantasy trilogy about Middle Earth that became a worldwide blockbuster, had to share the limelight with the seafaring epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe, which also landed four BAFTAs.
Jackson, heading a 60-strong delegation of stars and crew to the London ceremony, captured the most coveted prize of the night but was beaten to the BAFTA Best Director gong by Master and Commander director Peter Weir.
Jackson, who brought J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece to life, told the audience after receiving the Best Film award: "Wow! This is so fantastic.
"We were a bunch of Kiwis and some Aussies down in New Zealand making this film with American money. But we were always very much aware that we were looking after one of Britain's most-loved books."
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson scooped the top acting honours of the night for their critically acclaimed roles together in Lost in Translation. They beat off tough competition ranging from Sean Penn and Johnny Depp to Uma Thurman and Naomi Watts.
But Johansson, the new teenage darling of Hollywood, was in a strong position. She received two nominations for the Best Actress Award - in Girl with a Pearl Earring as well as Lost in Translation.
The British film industry still had plenty to celebrate when the winner was announced for Best Supporting Actor. That went to Bill Nighy for his riotously over-the-top portrayal of an ageing rock star in the hit feel-good comedy Love Actually. "Thank you," he said. "You have made an old rocker very happy. "
The American Civil War drama Cold Mountain led the BAFTA field with 13 nominations, widely seen as a valuable pointer to the Oscars. But on the big night, the only major award for the film was landed by Renee Zellweger, who won the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as a tough-minded mountain girl.
She had already won a Golden Globe award for the part and now looks a hot favourite to land the big one on Hollywood's Oscar night on February 29th.
Anthony Minghella, the director of Cold Mountain, said it was "just a great night for the movies that have been nominated".