Rings film lands five Bafta awards

LONDON - "The Lord of the Rings" has landed five top prizes at the British Academy Film Awards - the "Baftas" - and now the epic fantasy has its sights firmly set on next month's Academy Awards.

"It is thrilling the movie has been so well received by audiences around the world," said actor Sir Ian McKellen, who plays Gandalf the Wizard in the film which toppled the other hot favourite, "Moulin Rouge".

"The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring", which has already earned 13 Oscar nominations, was picked as best film at the British awards, seen as an important indicator of how Hollywood will vote next month.

The first in a $650 million trilogy of films based on the J.R.R. Tolkien classic landed awards for direction, special effects and make-up and hair. The public also chose the film as the best of the year -- it picked up over 30,000 votes.

"It is a labour of love made by fans of the book," said the film's director, Peter Jackson on Sunday. "We had the most wonderful cast and they gave the movie its heart and soul."

Despite torrential rain in London, the stars turned out in force for the glitzy awards ceremony at which Russell Crowe and Judi Dench received the top acting prizes.

Crowe won his best actor award for playing mathematical genius and Nobel laureate John Forbes Nash Jr in "A Beautiful Mind" which graphically depicts his struggle with schizophrenia.

Crowe was frankly astounded afterwards, confessing: "I love my job and I don't think I do it that well -- but keep on disagreeing with me."

And the film did the double when Jennifer Connelly landed the best supporting actress for her part in "A Beautiful Mind".

Close to tears, she said on receiving her award: "I am really shocked and very much honoured...I am kind of flabbergasted."

Dench won her award for playing another damaged genius with her memorable portrayal of writer Iris Murdoch "sliding into the darkness" with Alzheimer's disease in the poignant "Iris".

Dench revealed that she had jokingly bet her agent one million pounds just beforehand that she would not win the award. "So I was very shocked," she said.

Jim Broadbent, acclaimed for his role in "Iris" opposite Dench, ended up landing the best supporting actor award for his memorable performance in "Moulin Rouge", which also landed the best music and best sound awards.

Robert Altman's ebullient murder mystery "Gosford Park" was picked as British film of the year, defeating box office blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".

"Amelie", a quirky French comedy which has become an international hit, won the best original screenplay award.

But in the best foreign film category "Amelie" lost out to the Mexican movie "Amores Perros".

The British film awards ceremony was switched last year to February and it immediately gained international status as a valuable industry pointer to who will win an Oscar.

Best film: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Carl Foreman Award: Joel Hopkins/Nicola Usborne for Jump Tomorrow

David Lean Award for achievement in direction: Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings

Best original screenplay: Amélie

Best adapted screenplay: Shrek

Best actress: Judi Dench, Iris

Best actor: Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind

Best supporting actress: Jennifer Connelly, A Beautiful Mind

Best supporting actor: Jim Broadbent, Moulin Rouge

Best music: Moulin Rouge

Best foreign language film: Amores Perros

Best cinematography: The Man Who Wasn't There

Best production design: Amélie

Best costume design: Gosford Park

Best editing: Mulholland Drive

Best sound: Moulin Rouge

Best special effects: Lord of the Rings

Best make up/hair: Lord of the Rings

Best short film: About a Girl

Best short animation: Dog

Orange Film Of the Year: Lord of the Rings

Alexander Korda Award for outstanding British film of the year: Gosford Park

- REUTERS

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Oscar nominees (full list)