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New Zealand director Peter Jackson holds his award for Best Film for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards in London, February 15, 2004.(Xinhua/AFP)

British actor Bill Nighy holds his award for Best supporting Actor for Love Actually. (Xinhua/AFP)

U.S. actress Scarlett Johansson holds her award for Best Actress for Lost in Translation. (Xinhua/AFP)

U.S. director Sofia Coppola,nominated for Best Director, arrives for the BAFTA.(Xinhua/AFP)

U.S. actress Renee Zellweger, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Cold Mountain ,arrives for the BAFTA awards.(Xinhua/AFP)

British actress Emma Thompson, nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Love Actually , arrives for the BAFTA awards. (Xinhua/AFP)

BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" was declared Best Film on Sunday night at the BAFTAS, the British film industry's big night of the year.

But Peter Jackson, the New Zealand director of the fantasy trilogy, had to share the BAFTA limelight with the seafaring epic "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" starring Russell Crowe, which also landed four BAFTAS.

Jackson, heading a 60-strong delegation of stars and crew to the London ceremony, captured the most coveted prize of the night but lost the BAFTA Best Director prize to "Master and Commander" director Peter Weir.