BAFTA success for The Rings

Fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was named best film at the British Academy Film Awards. Lost in Translation co-stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson took the top acting honours. Return of the King was nominated for 12 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards, and won five on Sunday — best picture, cinematography, adapted screenplay and special effects, while members of the public voted to give it the film of the year award. The third installment in the Rings trilogy is a favourite to clean up at the Academy Awards on February 29.

Return beat Anthony Minghella’s Cold Mountain, Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Tim Burton’s Big Fish and Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World to take the best film BAFTA award. —(AP)