GOSFORD PARK ACHIEVES GOLDEN GLOBE SUCCESS

THE British feature film ‘Gosford Park’ co-financed by the Film Council's Premiere Fund as was widely predicted picked up a Golden Globe Award for Robert Altman for Best Director.
Altman received the award at the ceremony held in Los Angeles on Sunday January 20, 2002, for the film which was nominated for: Best Director - Robert Altman, Best Screenplay - Julian Fellowes, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Maggie Smith, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Helen Mirren and Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).
A spokesperson for the Film Council said that the production had brought “significant opportunities to the UK production sector.” The film used a cast of 51 of which 49 were British, a crew of 168 of which 162 were British and shooting for 57 days on a variety of UK locations.
Altman's Murder-mystery has also been nominated for Best British Film at this year's London Critics Circle Awards to be announced on February 13 at a ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel.
The film has already won awards from the National Society of Film Critics 2001 Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in December 2001 (Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Helen Mirren).
Robert Altman also received Best Director and Helen Mirren Best Supporting Actress awards from the American Film Institute, who for the first time are holding an annual awards ceremony in a bid to raise its profile. (SP)