'pianist' Toplines Bafa Nods

Roman Polan- ski's "The Pianist," set during World War II against the background of the Nazi occupation of Poland, scooped two of this year's biggest Orange British Academy Film Awards, announced Sunday.

Polanski's film secured the evening's top award, taking BAFA's best film plaudit, while the director snatched the David Lean Award for achievement in direction (HR 2/24).

"The Pianist" emerged victorious ahead of "Chicago," "Gangs of New York," "The Hours" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

Polanski won the director award over Martin Scorsese ("Gangs"), Rob Marshall ("Chicago"), Stephen Daldry ("The Hours") and Peter Jackson ("Two Towers").

With Polanski absent from the ceremony, two of his film's producers, Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde, picked up the awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts on his behalf.

Neither producer would be drawn on whether Polanski was making plans to travel to Los Angeles next month for the Academy Awards. Polanski is nominated for best director, and "The Pianist" received seven Oscar noms.

Daniel Day-Lewis won the best actor nod ahead of Adrien Brody ("The Pianist"), Michael Caine ("The Quiet American"), Nicolas Cage ("Adaptation") and Jack Nicholson ("About Schmidt").

Day-Lewis thanked all his colleagues on both sides of the camera, name-checking both Miramax Films co-chairman Harvey Weinstein and financier Graham King from Initial Entertainment Group. "If I had to point a finger at one man, it would have to be to thank that lovely man Martin Scorsese," he added.

The plaudits for best actress went to "The Hours' " Nicole Kidman. Kidman emerged victorious ahead of fellow "The Hours" cast member Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger ("Chicago"), Salma Hayek ("Frida") and Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball").

The best supporting actor award went to Christopher Walken for his role in "Catch Me If You Can."

Best supporting actress went to Britain's Catherine Zeta-Jones for her stocking-clad, high-kicking performance in "Chicago."

Picking up the award during the ceremony at the Odeon Leicester Square, a tearful and pregnant Zeta-Jones asked the audience to forgive her for being emotional as a result of "being full of hormones."

The award for best original screenplay went to Spain's Pedro Almodóvar for "Talk to Her," while the adapted screenplay nod went to "Adaptation's" Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman. (Invented by Charlie Kaufman, Donald is both a character in the film and an ostensible screenwriter on the film.)

Complete list of winners at www.hollywoodreporter.com.