Heath Ledger [File photo]

Heath Ledger's "Dark Knight" Oscar chances just brightened considerably.

The late actor scored his first major posthumous win of the awards season, as he was named Best Supporting Actor December 8 for his demented Joker job by the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.

Aside from Ledger's big score, the D.C. faction gave big props to "Slumdog Millionaire". The feel-good story of a Mumbai boy who hits it big on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" won a leading four awards, including Best Director for Danny Boyle, Best Breakthrough Performance by newcomer Dev Patel and Best Adapted Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy.

Ledger's performance in the Batman blockbuster is regarded as a solid chance for a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor.

Two days before, the late Australian actor had been awarded one of his country's most prestigious film awards for his final role in the Batman movie.

Ledger, 28, who died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in his New York apartment 11 months ago, was posthumously awarded the AFI (Australian Film Institute) international award for best actor.

Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theater rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute to the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a taciturn gay cowboy in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain".

Heath Ledger's family paid a teary tribute to the late Australian actor as they accepted a top Australian film industry award on his behalf. His father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate accepted the award from actor Michael Caton.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said his sister Kate, fighting back tears as she accepted the award alongside Ledger's parents.

"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter, who we will cherish forever," she added, referring to Matilda Ledger, the 3-year-old daughter he had with American actress Michelle Williams.

Heath Ledger as Joker in "The Dark Knight"

Sally Ledger thanked the film institute for the tribute to her son. "We are immensely proud of him, not only for his professional achievements, but in the way he truly cherished his family, friends and his precious Matilda," she said. "Heath was never one to accept mediocrity, he put his heart and soul into achieving what he believed was required and followed his passions with great enthusiasm and an insatiable curiosity," she added.

The AFI, celebrating its 50th-annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, describing him as "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man".

"He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," an AFI tribute said, "It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration to actors everywhere."

(Agencies/China.org.cn December 9, 2008)