Guillermo Del Toro's Oscar-nominated Pan's Labyrinth led the field for the annual Ariel Awards in Mexico presented by the Mexican Academy Of Cinematographic Arts And Sciences.

The film took 12 nominations including best picture, director, actor and actress.

Scoring seven nominations was Francisco Vargas' El Violin which was nominated for picture, director, first film, actor and screenplay, despite having no distribution deal in place in Mexico.

Other nominated films included Cronicas, by Ecuador's Sebastian Cordero, Mas Que Nada En El Mundo, directed by Andres Leon Becker and Javier Solar and In The Pit, the documentary directed by Juan Carlos Rulfo.

The winners will be announced on March 20 at the Bellas Artes Palace.