London - The British film director Sam Mendes yesterday swept the board when his debut film American Beauty was short-listed for 14 Bafta awards, the British equivalent of the Oscars. Mendes saw his film nominated in categories which included best film, best director, best cinematography and best original film music. It comes just three weeks after it picked up eight Oscar nominations.
The British-made East is East was nominated for five awards. A film by another British director, Mike Leigh, the Gilbert and Sullivan biopic Topsy Turvy, was also nominated for five awards.