French comedy Amelie has triumphed at the country's leading film awards the Cesars after winning four trophies.

The film - a whimsical romance about a Parisian waitress with a gift for helping others - won the top prize of best film while its maker Jean-Pierre Jeunet won best director.

The film, which is in the running for five Oscars later this month, also won Cesars for its score and sets, at Saturday night's event at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Mulholland Drive: Won best foreign film

Yet, despite its success, the result may be considered disappointing by some of the film's fans, who had predicted a clean sweep after it was nominated in 13 categories.

The movie, which is heavily tipped to take the Oscar for best foreign film, has been seen by at least eight million people in France and millions more around the world.

It has also become one of the most successful French-language films in the US to date.

British talent

Its star Audrey Tautou has been heralded as a talent to watch for the future, yet she failed to win the Cesar for best leading actress.

That honour went instead to Emanuelle Devos for her work in Jacques Audiard's Read My Lips.

Audiard's film, an offbeat romance between a half-deaf wallflower and a ragged thief, also won Cesars for its script and sound.

Irons: Recognised for his contribution to world cinemas

Michel Bouquet was named best actor for his role in How I Killed My Father.

Surreal Hollywood movie Mulholland Drive, from US director David Lynch, won the Cesar for best foreign film.

Meanwhile, British actor Jeremy Irons - star of movies such as The French Lieutenant's Woman and Kafka - was awarded France's coveted Cesar d'Honneur in recognition of his contribution to world cinema.

French screen stars Claude Rich and Anouk Aimee also won Cesar d'Honneur awards.