Traffic is Florida favourite

Steven Soderbergh and Michael Douglas on the set of Traffic

Drug war drama Traffic is continuing to pick up prizes in America's movie awards season - this time from critics in Florida.

The Florida Film Critics Circle gave the film three prizes on Thursday: best picture, best director for Steven Soderbergh, and supporting actor for Benicio Del Toro.

The acclaimed film stars newlyweds Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones.

Soderbergh's prize also covered his work on Erin Brockovich, which starred Julia Roberts.

Catherine Zeta Jones plays the wife of a successful businessman

Traffic's awards increase still further its chances of success at the Academy Awards in March.

Already, it is nominated for five Golden Globe awards - the traditional precursors to the Oscars.

Florida's critics also awarded Geoffrey Rush best actor for Quills, while Ellen Burstyn took best actress for her part in the drama Requiem For A Dream.

Frances McDormand took best supporting actress for her parts in Wonder Boys and Almost Famous, a film which helped Kate Hudson take a best newcomer award.

David Mamet's State and Main, about a small town invaded by a film crew, won best screenplay and best ensemble cast for a line-up which includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alec Baldwin.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won a best foreign language film and a prize for its cinematography, while Chicken Run rook the prize for best animated feature.

The Florida critics' awards are part of a rash of prizes given out in the run-up to the Oscars in March.

They started with the New York critics' prizes in December, which awarded Traffic its best film prize. Soderbergh was named best director and Benecio Del Toro was named best supporting actor.

Next Tuesday the American Film Institute will announce its film of the year for 2000.