French comedy Amelie leads the nominations for the country's leading film awards.

The film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, has 13 nominations, including best film, best actress, director, music, and original screenplay.

Its star, Audrey Tautou, is nominated for best actress, while Jamel Debbouze Rufus and Isabelle Nanty have nods for their supporting roles.

Amelie, a worldwide hit as well as a domestic smash in France, is also likely to be nominated for at least best foreign film when the Oscars shortlist is announced next Tuesday.

'Lightweight'

Director Jeunet had faced criticism at home from those who felt Amelie was merely a lightweight romance which "sanitised" Paris by playing down the role of immigrants.

Other best film nominees include Francois Ozon's Sous Le Sable (Under The Sand), Francois Dupeyron's La Chambre des Officiers (The Officers' Room), Coline Serrau's Chaos, and Jacque Audiard's Sur Mes Levres (On My Lips).

This year's foreign film nominees are Moulin Rouge, Traffic, Mulholland Drive, Joel Coen's The Man Who Wasn't There, and Italian director Nanni Moretti's The Son's Room.

The Cesars will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on 2 March. Actor Jeremy Irons, actress Anouk Aimee and director Claude Rich will pick up honorary awards at the event.