BBC - Films - High Noon - 16th February 2004

		Rings Masters BAFTA As reported by proper journalists elsewhere, last night saw Britain's great and good trot along to Leicester Square to watch scruffy oiks from the colonies win our top prizes. None were more scruffy, or more deserving, than surely-he-slept-in-that tux director Peter Jackson, who picked up best film for The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. It nabbed three other gongs (adapted screenplay, cinematography and special effects), although the hirsute helmer missed out on best director, with Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World Peter Weir (another convict) the surprise winner. Commander also got three other wins (for production design, costume design and best sound). Nineteen-year-old Lost In Translation star Scarlett Johansson had a surprise even bigger than her hair when she was named best actress, while writer-director Sofia Coppola accepted best actor on behalf of Bill Murray. Renée Zellweger took home the supporting actress award - one of only two wins for Cold Mountain - while Bill Nighy was a popular choice for supporting actor, for his outstanding turn in Love Actually. Touching The Void was named best British film, while Michael Winterbottom's In This World won best film not in the English language. For a full list of winners, visit BBC NEWS. Might as well do it after the next story, because it's the only other thing of real interest in today's round-up.

		President Q Quentin Tarantino will topline the Cannes Film Festival jury this year, presiding over the judges who hand out the Palme d'Or. President Tarantino, as we will now call him, blabbed, "Being the president is both a tremendous honour and a great responsibility. For me it is the crowning of an existence entirely devoted to cinema, my preferred obsession." There's no word yet on the other judges, while QT's Kill Bill: Volume 2 will likely open the festival (although it will not, obviously, be in competition).

		Stiles In West End Mona Lisa Smile star Julia Stiles will be strutting her stuff on the West End stage, co-starring with Aaron Eckhart in a revival of David Mamet's controversial play Oleanna, to open in April... Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore romantic comedy Fifty First Dates made A Lot Of Money at the US box office this weekend... German arthouse effort Head On was the surpise winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival this weekend. The drama about the German-Turkish immigrant experience was the first German movie to win top gong since 1986. Monster star Charlize Theron shared acting honours with unknown Catalina Sandino Moreno, for drug drama Maria Full Of Grace. Can we go home now?