Fox Searchlight, the arthouse film division of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, dominated the Academy Awards with eight awards, including the coveted best picture prize for its absurd comedy drama Birdman.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11, Michael Moore’s assault on US President George W Bush, is on track for an opening weekend that would surpass the $21.6 million (€17.7m) total gross of Mr Moore’s Bowling for Columbine, the 2002 film that earned him an Academy Award for best documentary.

Veteran author Ray Bradbury is demanding an apology from Farenheit 9/11 film-maker Michael Moore for lifting the title from his classic science-fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 without permission.

A US distributor has been found for Michael Moore’s controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which means the film will hit American cinemas on June 25.

Mel Gibson's new film Signs is still the number one film in America.