'Life is Beautiful' at the Oscars

The Academy Awards are being handed out in Los Angeles, and two prestigious Oscars have gone to the acclaimed Italian drama Life is Beautiful: Best Foreign Film, and Best Actor for star Roberto Benigni.

The ultra-enthusiastic Benigni stole the show by leaping over the backs of seats and jumping to the stage to accept the Best Foreign Film award.

By mid-show Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg's Second World War II combat movie, took prizes for editing, sound and sound effects editing.

Early in the telecast the award for Best Supporting Actress went to British Actress Dame Judi Dench for her role in Shakespeare in Love.

James Coburn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Affliction.

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Here are the nominees in the remaining top categories:

Best picture: Saving Private Ryan Shakespeare in Love (British) Life is Beautiful (Italian) The Thin Red Line Elizabeth (British)

Best Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love Fernanda Montenegro (Brazilian) for Central Station Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth Meryl Streep for One True Thing Emily Watson for Hilary and Jackie

Best Director: Roberto Benigni for Life Is Beautiful Steven Spielberg for Saving Private Ryan John Madden for Shakespeare in Love Terrence Malick for The Thin Red Line Peter Weir for The Truman Show