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 The BBC's Jon Leyne reportsAmerican Beauty is leading this year's nominations  real 28k  |
Friday, 17 March, 2000, 10:12 GMT
Unlike last year, when Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love dominated the Academy's glitzy ceremony, there are few British-made films vying for the glittering prizes.
 Sam Mendes: Critics love American Beauty
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The theatre director said he was "absolutely thrilled and completely delighted".
But he joked: "It's all downhill from here, it's probably the end of my career."
British writer Alan Ball also can toast the film's success with a nomination for best original screenplay.
Film icon Michael Caine is nominated in the best supporting actor category for his performance in the Cider House Rules - one of his few appearances without an English accent.
British nominees |
Best director: Sam Mendes
Best actress: Janet McTeer
Best supporting actor: Michael Caine; Jude Law
Best supporting actress: Samantha Morton
Best original screenplay: Mike Leigh; Alan Ball
Best adapted screenplay: Anthony Minghella
Best foreign language film: Solomon and Gaenor
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British thespian Jude Law, one of the stars of fellow Briton Anthony Minghella's new film The Talented Mr Ripley, is also nominated as best supporting actor.
Anthony Minghella also features with a nomination for best screenplay adapted from material previously published, for his development of the Patricia Highsmith novel.
Minghella is no stranger to the limelight, as his film The English Patient took nine titles at the 1996 Oscars including best director.
British actress Janet McTeer, who won high praise for her role as a single mother in Tumbleweeds, is competing in the best actress category.
This follows her Golden Globe win for the same role.
 Janet McTeer: Could Tumbleweeds net her Best Actress?
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"It was our little film and we were lucky if anyone saw it and now here we are," she told the BBC.
Samantha Morton, best known for appearing in ITV drama Band of Gold, is nominated for best supporting actress for Sweet and Lowdown.
Welsh picture Solomon and Gaenor, starring Ioan Gruffud, is nominated for best foreign language film.
New First Secretary Rhodri Morgan said the nomination would "have a dramatic effect in helping us build up the media industry in Wales".
Many of the UK's brightest hopes are dotted around US-made productions - either behind or in front of the cameras.
The Big Five: Best picture nominees |
American Beauty
The Insider
The Cider House Rules
Sixth Sense
The Green Mile
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Leigh's take on the life and works of light opera writers Gilbert and Sullivan has been showered with critical acclaim in the US.
The director, famous for his improvisational writing and directing style, praised his cast.
"It's great particularly for me to get a nomination like this, because of the way that everyone contributes so actively," he said.
The ceremony takes place on 26 March and among the British stars presenting statuettes will be nominee Jude Law and last year's best supporting actress, Dame Judi Dench.
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