the Artist Triumphs At Australian Film Awards

Oscar-tipped silent movie the Artist was the toast of the film industry Down Under on Friday night (27Jan12) after winning big at the Australian Academy Of Cinema And Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.

The Aussie prizegiving was transferred to Los Angeles for the presentation of the international awards and The Artist, which is nominated for a number of trophies at the upcoming Academy Awards, took the coveted Best International Film title.

The movie's director Michel Hazanavicius was honored with the Best Direction trophy and Jean Dujardin was named Best Actor ahead of George Clooney (The Descendants), Leonardo DiCaprio (J.

Edgar), Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March) and Michael Fassbender (Shame).

The Best Actress title went to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady.

The ceremony was hosted by the Academy's new president Geoffrey Rush and attendees included Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth.

The main awards show will take place in Sydney on Tuesday (31Jan12).