LOS ANGELES: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has congratulated the team of black and white silent film "The Artist" for winning five Oscars.

"It is a tremendous success for French cinema and quality cinema. We have to defend cinema, defend auteurs. Films must be paid for, we can’t pirate them," contactmusic.com quoted Sarkozy as saying.

"This silent film has seduced the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for an inventiveness and a grace that is reflected in all of the aspects of the work," he added.

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film starring Jean Dujardin, picked up five Oscars – best actor, best director, best costume design, original score and the highly coveted best picture at the award ceremony Sunday.