BAFTA nominations lead by'King's Speech'with 14 nods, including best picture

Made-in-Englandfavorite"The King's Speech"leads the race for theBritish Academy Film Awards,Britain's equivalent ofthe Oscars, with 14 nominations announced Tuesday, including best picture.

Colin Firthis the best-actor front-runner for his performance as stuttering monarchKing George VI, withGeoffrey Rushnominated for best supporting actor as the unconventional speech therapist who treated him.Helena Bonham Carteris up for best supporting actress for playing the king's wife, the Queen Mother Elizabeth.

The film faces strong competition from psychosexual ballet thriller"Black Swan,"which has 12 nominations, and mind-bending saga"Inception,"with nine. Endurance story"127 Hours"andCoen brothersWestern"True Grit"have eight nominations each.

"The King's Speech,"which shows the monarch struggling to find his voice as his nation faces its greatest test during World War II, has struck a popular chord with its humanizing depiction of the British royal family, drawing ovations from audiences at some screenings.

The modestly budgeted production, which has already earned more than $50 million at the box office in theU.S.and Britain, was partly funded by theU.K. Film Council, a government body that has been abolished byPrime Minister David Cameron's Conservative-led coalition.

Firth, 50, won a best-actor trophy at Sunday'sGolden GlobesinLos Angeles, and the latest nomination gives him extra momentum going into the Oscars. A win would be Firth's secondBAFTAin a row - he took the acting prize last year for"A Single Man."

"The Social Network,"the story of the founding ofFacebook, has six nominations including best picture;Aaron Sorkin's screenplay; andDavid Fincher's direction.Jesse Eisenbergreceived a best actor nomination for his turn as Facebook's college-student founderMark Zuckerberg.

As well as"The King's Speech"and"The Social Network,"the best-picture nominees are"Black Swan,""Inception"and"True Grit."

The separate category of best British film pits"The King's Speech"against"127 Hours,""Another Year,""Four Lions"and"Made in Dagenham."

The best-actor contenders are Firth, Eisenberg,James Francofor"127 Hours,"Javier Bardemfor"Biutiful"andJeff Bridgesfor"True Grit."

Annette BeningandJulianne Mooreare both best-actress nominees for"The Kids Are All Right,"along withNatalie Portmanfor"Black Swan,"Noomi Rapacefor"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"andHailee Steinfeldfor"True Grit."

Best-director nominees are Fincher for"The Social Network,"Tom Hooperfor"The King's Speech,"Danny Boylefor"127 Hours,"Darren Aronofskyfor"Black Swan"andChristopher Nolanfor"Inception."

Elusive graffitiartist Banksyis nominated for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer for directing the faux documentary"Exit Through The Gift Shop."

Pete Postlethwaite, who died earlier this month, is nominated posthumously in the best supporting actor category for his role as an Irish-American gangster in"The Town."

The British awards, known as BAFTAs, will be handed out atLondon'sRoyal Opera Houseon Feb. 13, two weeks before the Academy Awards in Hollywood, and are considered an important indicator of likely Oscar success.

Last year,Iraqwar drama"The Hurt Locker"won six BAFTAs, including best picture - then repeated the feat at the Oscars.

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