Belleville Rendez-Vous (Les Triplettes De Belleville) received the Lumiere Award for best film of 2003 on Tuesday night in Paris.

The film is nominated for three Cesars later this month as well as two Oscars in the best animated film and best original song categories.

The Lumieres are France's equivalent to the Golden Globes, handed out by the foreign press based in Paris.

Alain Resnais took the statue for best direction for his musical comedy Pas Sur La Bouche which has nine Cesar nominations and marks his return to the screen following 1997's lauded On Connaît La Chanson.

Sylive Testud was awarded the best actress prize for her work in Alain Corneau's Stupeur Et Tremblements. Testud is also nominated in the same category for the Cesars. Bruno Todeschini was named best actor for his role in Patrice Chereau's Son Frere which was a winner at Berlin last year. Todeschini is also hoping for a Cesar award on February 21.

Cesar nominees Julie Bertuccelli and Bernard Rennucci picked up the prize for screenwriting for Depuis qu'Otar Est Parti which won the Prix Michel d'Ornano at Deauville in September.

Cannes winner and heavily Cesar nominated Les Invasions Barbares by Denys Arcand took the award for Best Francophone film.

Best male newcomer prize went to Cesar nominee Gregori Derangere for Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Bon Voyage which leads the pack of Cesar nominees at 11. Sasha Andres was voted best female newcomer for Elle Est Des Notres from director Siegrid Alnoy.