GAY FILMS SCOOP GOLDEN GLOBES

Films featuring gay characters scooped the top feature film awards at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards, held in Beverley Hills early this morning.

Leading the pack, by scooping the coveted Best Motion Picture – Drama award, was the widely acclaimed gay cowboy love story, Brokeback Mountain. The film, directed by Ang Lee, stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as two ranch hands who conduct a secret love affair over the years.

Director Ang Lee was also awarded the Best Director – Motion Picture award for the film. Brokeback Mountain further scooped the Best Screenplay – Motion Picture award as well as Best Original Song. In response to his win, Lee said, “People fall in love, period. This is a universal story … I just wanted to make a love story.”

And while Heath Ledger missed out on the best actor in a drama gong, the award was given to a Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role as gay writer Truman Capote in the film of the same name. Felicity Huffman was awarded the best actress in a dramatic motion picture for playing a transgendered woman in Transamerica.

“I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins, but I think as people our job is to become who we really are and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are,” Huffman said after winning the award.

South Africa missed out on awards, with Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi losing out in the Best Foreign Language Film category to Paradise Now from Palestine. Charlize Theron was also nominated as best actress in a drama for the film North Country.

The other big winner was the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line with Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Reese Witherspoon) and Best Actor – Musical or Comedy (Joaquin Phoenix).

Lost, House and Desperate Housewives also garnered a number of awards in the television categories. Anthony Hopkins received this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award for his “outstanding contribution to the entertainment field.”

The Golden Globes was seen in around 150 countries worldwide and is one of the few awards ceremonies that span both television and motion picture achievements.