'The Artist' up for 12 BAFTAs

LONDON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- "The Artist" was nominated for 12 Orange British Academy Film Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts said Tuesday.

The black-and-white valentine to Hollywood's silent film age was named Best Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles.

The Cold War-era espionage thriller "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" was nominated for 11 BAFTAs, while "Hugo" is up for nine and "My Week with Marilyn" is up for six.

"The Help" and "War Horse" are each nominated for five prizes.

In the running for Best Film are "The Artist," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Descendants," "Drive" and "The Help."

Nominated for Best Director are Martin Scorsese for "Hugo," Nicolas Winding Refn for "Drive," Lynne Ramsay for "We Need to Talk About Kevin," Tomas Alfredson for "Tinker Tailor" and Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist."

Shortlisted for Best Lead Actor are George Clooney for "The Descendants," Jean Dujardin for "The Artist," Brad Pitt for "Moneyball," Gary Oldman for "Tinker Tailor" and Michael Fassbender for "Shame."

The nominees for Best Lead Actress are Berenice Bejo for "The Artist," Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn," Viola Davis for "The Help," Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady" and Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin."

The contenders for Best Supporting Actor are Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn," Jim Broadbent for "The Iron Lady," Philip Seymour Hoffman for "The Ides of March," Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Jonah Hill for "Moneyball."

Competing for Best Supporting Actress are Carey Mulligan for "Drive," Judi Dench for "My Week with Marilyn," Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer for "The Help," and Melissa McCarthy for "Bridesmaids."

The winners are to be announced Feb. 12 at the Royal Opera House in London, with comedian and author Stephen Fry to serve as host.