Slumdog Pockets Pre-Oscar Prizes

Continues building Oscar momentum by winning top prizes from American Society of Cinematographers, American Cinema Editors and Art Directors Guild

This Slumdog can hunt.

With just a week until the Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire's momentum continued unchecked, picking up the top prizes Sunday from the American Society of Cinematographers, American Cinema Editors and Art Directors Guild.

Director of photography Anthony Dod Mantle, editor Chris Dickens and production designer Mark Digby are now positioned as the Academy Award favorites after topping Oscar-caliber competition at the respective ceremonies.

Dod Mantle beat fellow camera-wielders from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, The Reader and The Dark Knight for ASC's highest honor on a night where Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan received the Board Governors Award "for his contributions to the art of filmmaking."

Dickens won the Eddie for Best Edited Feature Film (Drama) over the cutters of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon and Milk. WALL-E's Stephen Schaffer won on the comedy side.

Likewise, Digby shared the spotlight at the Art Directors Guild Awards. The ADG divides its honors three ways, with Digby's Slumdog production winning for contemporary film, while Benjamin Button's Donald Graham Burt triumphed in the period category and Dark Knight's Nathan Crowley in fantasy.