British front runners at 2011 Oscars

This year’s Oscar scene is full of British nominations, and top of the list is The King’s Speech with 12 nods.

The story of King George VI’s struggle to overcome his stammer has been recognised as one of the best motion pictures of the year, winning the best film category at the Producers Guild of America Awards and receiving 14 Bafta nominations.

Leading man Colin Firth is a strong contender for the Best Actor award having already bagged a Golden Globe in this category as well as a Screen Actors Guild accolade.

Supporting actors Helena Bonham Carter, as Queen Elizabeth, and Geoffrey Rush, as speech therapist Lionel Logue, can also hope for a golden statuette.

Nominations also include a Scotland-based production, The Illusionist, which had its premier at the Edinburgh Film Festival last year. It will be competing in the best animation category against Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon.

The Illusionist's story is about a magician who, unable to find inspiration in Paris, travels to Edinburgh in what has been described a fairy-tale depiction of Scotland.

The French director Sylvain Chomet, previously nominated for an Oscar for Belleville Rendez-vous, set up a studio in Edinburgh after visiting its film festival seven years ago.

Vicki Haworth from ink.digital, who worked with Chomet on animating The Illusionist, says the production involved 30 people including graduates from Scotland and the rest of the UK.

She admitted the project was complex and difficult, but was thrilled that all the hard work and talent has been recognised: “I’m still amazed and very, very proud. It is a great achievement for the whole team and we’ve done extremely well with getting the nomination. And winning would be out of this world!”

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland, told The Journal: “The Illusionist is a beautifully-crafted animation and a wonderful calling card for Edinburgh and Scotland. From gritty urban locations to romantic mountainsides, Scotland has a lot to offer film companies.”