The nominees have been announced for the 23rd Awards of the London Film Critics' Circle to be held at London's Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday 12th February 2003, in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

The Dilys Powell Award for outstanding contribution to cinema will be presented to director Lewis Gilbert (Sink The Bismark, Alfie, Educating Rita, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Shirley Valentine).

Michael Caine is in the running for the prestigious Actor of the Year award for The Quiet American, having won the British Actor award for Little Voice in 1999. Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt) and Al Pacino (Insomnia) share the nomination.

Emily Watson also has the potential to win a second award. She was British Actress in 1999 for her roles in Hilary And Jackie and Angela's Ashes and is this year's hot contender for best British Actress in a Supporting Role (Red Dragon).

Bend It Like Beckham star Keira Knightly is up for British Newcomer of the Year along with Martin Compston (Sweet Sixteen). Knightly has since played a leading role in TV's Doctor Zhivago.

Alfonso Cuaron, who will replace Chris Columbus as the director of JK Rowling's third novel Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban, is nominated for best Foreign Language Film (Y Tu Mama Tambien).

Road To Perdition and Sweet Sixteen have three nominations each, but All Or Nothing has the potential to sweep the boards with five nominations (including Mike Leigh as best British Director and Best British Film).

23rd Awards of the London Film Critics' Circle Nominees

Foreign Language Film
1. Talk To Her - (Pathe)
2. Y Tu Mama Tambien - (Icon)
3. The Son's Room - (Momentum)

British Newcomer Of The Year
1. Keira Knightley (Bend It Like Beckham) - Helkon SK
2. Martin Compston (Sweet Sixteen) - Icon
3. Asif Kapadia (The Warrior) - Film Four

British Screenwriter
1. Paul Laverty (Sweet Sixteen) - Icon
2. Mike Leigh (All Or Nothing) - UCG
3. Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) - Buena Vista

Screenwriter
1. David Self (Road To Perdition) - Fox
2. Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) - Entertainment
3. Andrew Bovell (Lantana) - Winchester

British Actress In A Supporting Role
1. Ruth Sheen (All Or Nothing) - UGC
2. Emily Watson (Red Dragon) - UIP
3. Shirley Henderson (24 Hour Party People) - Pathe

British Actor In A Supporting Role
1. Jude Law (Road To Perdition) - Fox
2. Kenneth Branagh (Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets) - Warner Bros
3. Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind) - UIP

British Actress
1. Samantha Morton (Morven Callar) - Momentum
2. Lesley Manville (All Or Nothing) - UGC
3. Miranda Richardson (Spider) - Helkon

Actress
1. Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) - Entertainment
2. Kerry Armstrong (Lantana) - Winchester
3. Stockard Channing (The Business Of Strangers) - Momentum

British Actor
1. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things) - Buena Vista
2. Hugh Grant (About A Boy) - UIP
3. Ralph Fiennes (Spider) - Helkon

Actor
1. Michael Caine (The Quiet American) - Buena Vista
2. Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt) - Entertainment
3. Al Pacino (Insomnia) - BVI

British Director
1. Sam Mendes (Road To Perdition) - Fox
2. Christopher Nolan (Insomnia) - BVI
3. Mike Leigh (All Or Nothing) - UGC

Director
1. Pedro Almodovar (Talk To Her) - Pathe
2. Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American/Rabbit Proof Fence) - Buena Vista
3. Peter Jackson (Lord Of the Rings) - Entertainment

British Film Of The Year
1. All Or Nothing - UGC
2. About A Boy - UIP
3. Sweet Sixteen - Icon

Film Of The Year
1. The Road To Perdition - Fox
2. Lantana - Winchester
3. About Schmidt - Entertainment
4. Donnie Darko - Metrodome
5. Bowling For Columbine -Momentum