'The Artist' creates noise at BAFTA Awards in London

Actors Jean Dujardin and Alexandra Lamy arrive for the Bafta awards in London

Last night at the British Academy Film Awards, The Artist created its fair share of noise by winning seven honors, including Best Picture.

The black-and-white silent film has enjoyed growing popularity since its release last May at Cannes, where it was awarded Best Picture. Star Jean Dujardin also won the male acting prize, while filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius won awards for directing and an original screenplay.

Set in 1927 Hollywood, The Artist tells the story of silent movie star George Valentin (Dujardin) as he fears for his career with the arrival of talking pictures. But everything changes after his chance meeting with Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a dancing starlet set for a big break.

This homage to old Hollywood cinema has already won three Golden Globes and received 10 Oscar nominations, amplifying anticipation for the film's success at Hollywood’s Academy Awards coming up on February 26.

Dujardin credits the film’s simplicity for its success. “It’s a love story,” he said. “It’s universal. And there’s a cute dog.”

Hazanavicius, who received the award from presenter Brad Pitt, thanked the academy for acknowledging that the silent film even had a screenplay.

“So many people thought that there was no script because there was no dialogue,” he said.

Other films such as spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,The Help, and The Iron Lady also took home awards.

Last year, it was The King’s Speech who swept the awards at BAFTA, including the honor of Best Picture.