Brokeback has had a highly successful awards season so far

The gay love story - starring Heath Ledger - won film of the year and director of the year for Ang Lee at the ceremony in London on Wednesday.

Brokeback Mountain has already won four Golden Globes and secured eight Oscar nominations, including best film.

The best British actor and actress awards went to Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener.

Classic

In other big awards, Bruno Ganz won actor of the year for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Downfall, while Naomi Watts was named actress of the year for her role in King Kong.

Thandie Newton scooped the actress in supporting role for her performance in racial drama Crash.

LIST OF WINNERS Film of the Year - Brokeback Mountain Director - Ang Lee Actress - Naomi Watts Actor - Bruno Ganz Supporting actress - Thandie Newton Supporting actor - Tom Hollander (Pride and Prejudice) British actress - Rachel Weisz British actor - Ralph Fiennes British newcomer - Kelly Reilly (Mrs Henderson Presents) British producer - Simon Channing Williams (The Constant Gardener) British director - Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice) Foreign Language Film - Downfall Screenwriter - Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (Crash) The Attenborough Award - The Constant Gardener Dilys Powell Award - Bryan Forbes CBE

Awards chairman William Russell said: "Brokeback Mountain has all the ingredients of a classic love story, except that the lovers are two young ranch hands who fall in love one summer while herding sheep, but go on to marry and have children, while continuing to meet over the years.

"Ang Lee has succeeded in presenting this highly controversial situation in an intelligent and sensitive fashion, and secured outstanding performances from the entire cast.

"It is a feat which has been rightly recognised."

The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema was presented to director Bryan Forbes, whose work includes Whistle down the Wind and the original The Stepford Wives.