The film earned a yes for best musical and comedy and for its leading stars Berenice Bejo and Jean Dujardin.

Following the line of The Artist are The Help, 1960s dramas, and The Descendants, George Clooney film, both holding five probable awards.

The major event will be hosted by comic artist and actor Ricky Gervais. The star from the Office and Extras has set up a hot seat for some celebrities last year with his revealing talk.His targets this year must get ready as he had already prepared some jaw-breaking jokes for them. Gervais explained that everyone he had made joke with last year was cool with it.

Up in the competition for best musical or comedy category with The Artist are Midnight in Paris, My Week with Marilyn and Bridesmaid. For best film drama, nominees include The Descendants, The Help, War Horse, The Ideas of March, Moneyball and Hugo.

Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier was nominated for best actor alongside Michelle Williams, portraying Marilyn Monroe form the movie My Week with Marilyn. Williams is on the line for best comedy actress, while Kate Winslet is up for the Roman Polanski firm Carnage - an award she's going to share with Jodie Foster.

Other targets for this year's awards are Tilda Swinton from We Need to Talk About Kevin, Meryl Streep from The Iron Lady, Glenn Close, Violan Davis and Rooney Mara, all three from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

For best dramatic actor, included in the list are Clooney, Michael Fassbender, Leonardo DiCarpio, and Brad Pitt. It's a yes for Ryan Gosling for second best actor and Brendan Gleeson for best actor in a comedy and musical category.

Other nominees with prospective awards this year include Aardman, The Adventures of Tintin and Cars 2.

For British Talents, names that came up include Downton Abbey, Mildred Pierce, Winslet, Hugh Bonneville, Dominic West, Bill Nighy, Idris Elba, Romola Garai, Emily Watson, Jeremy Irons, Damian Lewis, and Abi Morgan.