80th Annual Academy Award Nominees Announced

80th Annual Academy Award nominees announced : The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the much awaited 2007 Oscar nomination announcements early this morning. Though the Writers' Guild of America is still on strike, contenders for the 80^th annual Academy awards were announced as usual, by the President of the Academy, Sid Ganis. This year a special guest star and former Oscar winner, Kathy Bates, was there to announce with him. Visit the website of the AMPAS to view footage of the nominations, as well as information on all the films that received nominations.

The Academy made nominations in twenty four categories, though the public at large is generally interested in only the main ones. Leading actor and actress, supporting actor and actress, best motion picture of the year, and best director.

Several films dominate the nominations this year. "No Country for Old Men" receives eight nominations; seven nominations for "Atonement" and six nominations for "Michael Clayton".

This year could see Cate Blanchett taking away Oscars in both the categories of leading actress and supporting actress for her roles in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and "I'm Not There".

Some of the actors and actresses joining the ranks of the first-time Oscar nominees are: Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Casey Affleck, Viggo Mortensen, and Hal Holbrook.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent)
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)