Film Awards
Nominees announced for 82nd Academy Awards
The Oscars, to be held March 7 in Los Angeles, unveil a super-sized Best Picture category
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Courtesy AMPASBaldwin and Martin in the first of many compromising positions
At 5:30 AM PST, Academy President Tom Sherak and actress Anne Hathaway announced the nominees for all major awards at a press conference in Hollywood.
The Best Picture category has been expanded for the first time to include 10 features instead of the usual 5. This decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been much-debated by Oscar traditionalists and industry bigwigs.
Some argue that the move to 10 nominees will dilute the distinction of having been nominated simply in order to expand the list of recipients, giving double the films that boost in box office and DVD revenue that accompanies a Best Picture nod.
Best Picture
- Avatar
- The Blind Side
- District 9
- An Education
- The Hurt Locker
- Inglourious Basterds
- Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
- A Serious Man
- Up
- Up in the Air
Leading the pack in total nominations were "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker", with 9 nominations each. "Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow is only the fourth female ever to be nominated for Best Director, and must face off against ex-husband and "Avatar" director James Cameron for the statue.
The Oscars will be held on March 7 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Hosts for the ceremony will be Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.
