Brokeback Mountain, a film that depicts homosexual love among American cowboys, was bestowed four Orange British Academy Film (BAFTA) awards Sunday night, turning into the biggest winner of the night.

 

The film, directed by Chinese Ang Lee, won BAFTA awards for film, adapted screenplay, the David Lean Award for Achievement in Director and actor in a supporting role.

 

"This is a very special and touching western romance, dwelling not only on gay love, but also American cowboys. I couldn't get it off my mind after first reading the script," said Lee after winning the award.

 

Memoirs of a Geisha has won three awards for cinematography, costume design and the Anthony Asquith Award for achievement in film music.

 

The Constant Gardener, the British-made film which had 10 nominations, took only one award for editing.

 

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, won the Alexander Korda Award for the outstanding British film of the year.

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman won best actor for Capote, while Reese Witherspoon won the actress award for Walk the Line.

 

The special achievement of a British director or producer in their first film went to director Joe Wright for his adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

 

"I'm just delighted. I really thought that because it was a panel vote it might go to people who had gone to war-torn places. I'm very surprised and delighted," said Wright.

 

The BAFTA which has been turning strong over the last six years after splitting from the academy awards for television, is now worldly acclaimed in the film industry and is regarded as a prelude to the Oscars in the United States in early March.

 

This year, it has been estimated that the awards ceremony was broadcasted to over one billion audiences across the world.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2006)