BAFTA awards

LONDON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- "The Hurt Locker" pulled in six BAFTA awards, including the big prizes of best film and best director.

The awards, given Sunday by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, could provide an insight into the winners of the Academy Awards, which will be announced March 7.

"Avatar," James Cameron's sci-fi epic that has been praised for its visuals but treated coolly for story, and "The Hurt Locker," which starkly and intensely follows a U.S. military bomb disposal team, are considered the favorites to take the Best Picture Oscar.

They have split the two bellwether awards -- "Avatar" taking the Golden Globe for Best Drama and "The Hurt Locker" the key BAFTA honor. They have also split the Best Director honors -- Cameron winning the Golden Globe and Kathryn Bigelow -- Cameron's ex-wife -- taking BAFTA's version.

"The Hurt Locker" also won BAFTA awards for Cinematography, Editing, Original Screenplay and Sound. "Avatar" took awards for Production Design and Special Visual Effects.

The BAFTA lead acting awards went to Colin Firth for "A Single Man" and Carey Mulligan for "An Education." The supporting actor honors were taken by Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" and Mo'Nique for "Precious."