American Civil War epic Cold Mountainled the charge today for the BAFTAS - Britain's equivalent of Hollywood's top accolades.
Starring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, the film scooped 13 nominations, one more than Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the last in the fantasy trilogy. Girl With A Pearl Earring, starring Colin Firth as the painter Vermeer, was nominated in 10 categories.
In the battle for Best Film award, Cold Mountainand Lord of the Ringswere joined in the last five by the Russell Crowe naval saga Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Lost in Translationwith Bill Murray and Tim Burton's Big Fish.
One big surprise at the BAFTAS - widely seen as a pointer to the Oscars - was the omission in the Best Actress category of Kidman, who swept all before her last year with The Hours. Instead, this year's two tipped leading ladies were Uma Thurman and Scarlett Johansson.
Cold Mountainco-star Law was pitted against Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Bill Murray and Benicio Del Toro in a hotly contested battle for the Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
The other top Cold Mountainnominations were for Best Director for Anthony Minghella and Best Supporting Actress for Rene Zellweger.
Lord of the Ringscould end its three years of box office success on a triumphant note - especially for Ian McKellen who plays the wizard Gandalf. He is up for the Best Supporting Actor award.