UK Triumph As Wallace Wins Oscar
British hit Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit has triumphed at the Oscars winning best animated film, the first UK Oscar of the night.
The award marks creator Nick Park's fourth Oscar, but his first for a feature film. Park thanked all his fellow animators in "Bristol, England".
Triple nominee George Clooney won best supporting actor, the first of the night for his role in Syriana.
Cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain leads the nominations with eight nods.
"So I'm not winning director," quipped the 44-year-old actor, who is also nominated for best director and original screenplay.
"I do not know how you compare art," said Clooney of his fellow nominees. "They are stellar performances and I'm truly honoured, to be up here."
Cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain leads the nominations with eight nods.
However industry insiders have suggested Ang Lee's film could face a late challenge from racial drama Crash in the best film race.
Low budget films dominate this year's Academy Awards, with only Steven Spielberg's Munich - a fictional drama about the aftermath of the the 1972 Olympics massacre - costing more than $15m (£8.5m).
Good Night, and Good Luck, George Clooney's black-and-white account of Edward Murrow's on-air battles with Senator Joe McCarthy and Capote, a biopic of In Cold Blood author Truman Capote complete the five best film nominees.
Heath Ledger, nominated for best actor in Brokeback Mountain, arrived with his partner and co-star Michelle Williams, a best supporting actress nominee.
Capote star Philip Seymour Hoffman Hoffman is hot favourite to pick up the best actor award, ahead of Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix, who stars as late country singer Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.
Terrence Howard, who appeared in Hustle and Flow, and David Strathairn, who plays Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, are also nominated.
Constant Gardener star Weisz is considered to be the British hope of the night.
"I'm very proud of the film. I'm proud of everyone in it," said 34-year-old Weisz, who is seven months pregnant.
Her rivals to the award include Williams, Capote's Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand and Amy Adams.
"It's got four nominations here tonight and that means a lot more people are going to get to see it," added Weisz.
Knightley, who is nominated in the best actress category for her role as Lizzie Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, described the Oscars as "surreal".
"It's great, it's good fun," said the 20-year-old star who, alongside fellow Brit Dame Judi Dench, is considered an outsider for the award.
Rival Reese Witherspoon is the favourite for her portrayal of Johnny Cash's wife June in Walk the Line.
Other nominees include Felicity Huffman for her role as a transsexual in Transamerica, and Charlize Theron for North Country.
