Costa Gavras' heavily Cesar-nominated Amen picked up France's Lumiere award this weekend for best film of 2002.

The Lumieres, which are the French equivalent to the Golden Globes in the US, are voted on by foreign journalists working in France.

Jean Rochefort won the best actor prize for his role in Patrice Leconte's The Man On The Train while Isabelle Carre took top honours for Zabou Breitman's Se Souvenir De Belle Choses. Although Carre is nominated for a Cesar in the same category next Saturday night, Rochefort is not.

Best new talent prizes went to Gaspard Ulliel for Embrassez Qui Vous Voudrez and Cecile De France, an EFP shooting star at the recent Berlin Film Festival, for Europudding. Both names are on the Cesar list.

Francois Ozon was named best director for the hit 8 Femmes and will likely repeat that feat at the Cesars despite the lack of a nod from the Oscars. Cedric Klapisch took the statue for screenwriting for Europudding.

A new award, best Francophone film - produced outside France - went to the Dardenne brothers for The Son (Le Fils).

The Lumiere Awards

Best film
Amen - Costa-Gavras

Best Director
Francois Ozon - 8 Femmes

Best Actor
Jean Rochefort - L'homme Du Train

Best Actress
Isabelle Carre - Se Souvenir Des Belles Choses

Best Screenplay
Cedric Klapisch - Europudding

Best Female Newcomer
Cecile de France - Europudding

Best Male Newcomer
Gaspard Ulliel - Embrassez Qui Vous Voudrez

Best Francophone Film
Le Fils - Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne