Kathryn Bigelow. (Brian To/WENN.com) 9/11 victims group backs 'Zero Dark' Clarke gets real in 'Zero Dark' Bigelow defends 'Zero Dark' 'Zero Dark' captures box office 'Zero Dark' is cinematic genius 'Zero Dark Thirty' not accurate: CIA boss NY critics pick 'Zero Dark'

Kathryn Bigelow's critically-acclaimed movie Zero Dark Thirty has continued to make its presence felt during Hollywood's awards season by scooping four top honours at Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards on Monday.

The drama, based on the real life hunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, landed prizes for Best Film and Best Screenplay, while Bigelow was named Best Director and the film's star Jessica Chastain took the Best Actress honour.

Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master was also a big winner - Joaquin Phoenix was hailed as Best Actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman picked up the Best Supporting Actor trophy and Best Supporting Actress went to Amy Adams.

Both films are expected to be among big Oscar contenders when the nominations are announced on Thursday.

Other winners in Vancouver included Beyond The Black Rainbow, which scooped three awards (Best British Columbia Film/best Canadian Director/best Actor in a Canadian Film), Leos Carax's Holy Motors (Best Foreign Language Film) and Malik Bendjelloul's Searching For Sugar Man (Best Documentary)