Atonement leads Empire shortlist

Both films have six nominations ahead of next month's ceremony, billed as an antidote to the Oscars and the Baftas.

Zodiac, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Bourne Ultimatum, and The Assassination of Jesse James will battle it out for best film.

Readers of the magazine and its website will decide the winners, to be revealed at a London ceremony on 9 March.

Atonement, which is up for seven Oscars and 14 Baftas, is shortlisted for best British film, best actress for Keira Knightley, best actor for James McAvoy, best director for Joe Wright, best newcomer for Saoirse Ronan, and best soundtrack.

'Terrific judge of movies'

Hot Fuzz, Sunshine, Control and This Is England are also up for best British film.

The fifth Harry Potter film is nominated for best film, best actor for Daniel Radcliffe, best actress for Emma Watson, best director for David Yaes, best sci-fi/fantasy film, and best soundtrack.

Comic Simon Pegg is shortlisted for best actor for his part in Hot Fuzz, along with The Bourne Ultimatum's Matt Damon, Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy and 300 star Gerard Butler.

Knocked Up's Katharine Heigl is up for best actress along with Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart, Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth, Emma Watson and Keira Knightley.

Other categories include best thriller - which will be one of Zodiac, American Gangster, Eastern Promises, The Bourne Ultimatum and Disturbia - and best sci-fi/fantasy film, which has Sunshine, Stardust, Transformers, 300 and Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix as nominees.

Empire magazine editor Mark Dinning said: "Once again, it is a fascinating and exciting list of nominees.

"That sophisticated films like Atonement and Zodiac can rub up against blockbusters like 300 and Transformers proves that cinema audiences are a terrific judge of movies."

Next month's awards ceremony, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, will be hosted by comic Rob Brydon.

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