Stars come out for Baftas

American Beauty star Kevin Spacey and partner Dianne Dreyer

Stars of the big and small screens are at a glittering ceremony in London for the UK's answer to the Oscars.

Film legends and newcomers alike are hoping to be among those honoured by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards - the UK's most prestigious film awards ceremony.

Bafta nominations

Best actress - Linda Bassett (East is East); Annette Bening (American Beauty); Julianne Moore (The End of the Affair); Emily Watson (Angela's Ashes)

Best actor - Jim Broadbent (Topsy-Turvy); Russell Crowe (The Insider); Ralph Fiennes (The End of the Affair); Om Puri (East is East); Kevin Spacey (American Beauty)

Screenplay (Original) - All About My Mother; American Beauty; Being John Malkovich; The Sixth Sense; Topsy-Turvy

Box office hit American Beauty, which swept the board at the Oscars, has been nominated for 14 awards, including "best film" and "best director" for British film-maker Sam Mendes.

The film won both titles at the Academy Awards a fortnight ago.

Mr Mendes told the BBC he was pleased that this time, other people involved in the film had been nominated.

He said he had sealed a deal with an American film company to make a movie in the UK next year.

And he described the time since his Oscar triumph as "one of the nicest and most chaotic periods of my life".

"Everyone's goodwill and sense of excitement has been infectious, so coming home has been great," he said.

Mena Suvari: It's very surreal

Star of the film Mena Suvari said their success seemed very "surreal and exciting".

She said of her trip to the UK: "It's very worth coming - I wish I could stay a little longer, so I'm going to have to come back."

Competing for the "best film" title is East is East, Britain's biggest grossing UK film, which is nominated for six awards, including the "most promising newcomer" title for its writer, Ayub Khan Din.

Nominees, film directors and glamorous partners paraded before the crowds of onlookers as they arrived at London's Leicester Square.

Backless dresses were the order-of-the-day, with a string of Hollywood actresses arriving in daringly glamorous gowns.

Nominee Cate Blanchett, wearing a long, silver sequinned dress said: "I'm really excited. I'm glad to be back in London."

'Normal' celebrity mum

Pregnant superstar Kate Winslet wearing an elegant black trouser suit with floral decoration and a diamond necklace, was greeted with cheers, but there was no sign of husband Jim Threapleton.

Sam Mendes: "Life has been chaotic"

Asked how it felt to be a celebrity mum-to-be, she said: " I'm just getting on with it. I'm like any normal person. I have the same worries, I have the same excitements. I'm not thinking of myself in that way."

Michael Caine, who won the "best supporting actor" Oscar for his role in The Cider House Rules, is hoping to repeat his success in the same category.

He will, in any case, be presented with the Bafta Fellowship.

The Bafta judges were asked to cast their votes ahead of the Oscars so as not to be influenced by the famous US ceremony.

Suvari and Elizabeth actress Cate Blanchett were among the stars at a pre-Baftas party on Saturday night.

Kate Winslet was greeted by cheers

Suvari and Blanchett are both vying for the best supporting actress title for their roles in American Beauty and The Talented Mr Ripley respectively.

Hollywood legends Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway and Kate Winslet will be VIP presenters of the Bafta awards, together with heart-throb Joseph Fiennes and Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell.

Although most awards are voted by members of the academy, cinemagoers have cast their votes for the Orange Audience Award.

This year, more than 70,000 people have chosen their favourite. Two films are frontrunners from the shortlist of 10 - Notting Hill and The Matrix.