Actor Colin Firth sparked a fresh Oscars buzz on Sunday when he was awarded the Best Actor prize by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for his role in King's Speech, The (2010).

The star is a frontrunner for an Academy Award nomination after critics handed him a trophy for his portrayal of monarch King George VI.

The Social Network was also praised by L.A. Film experts and went home with the Best Film and Best Screenplay honours. The Best Director award was tied between The Social Network's David Fincher and Carlos filmmaker Olivier Assayas.

Other winners included Mother star Kim Hye-ja, who won the Best Actress prize, while the Best Supporting Actor and Actress were given to Niels Arestrup for his role in A Prophet and Jacki Weaver for her turn in Animal Kingdom. Toy Story 3 won the Best Animation prize while the documentary honour went to Last Train Home.

Source: Press Release