Oscars 2010: Avatar and Hurt Locker lead nominations

Science-fiction film Avatar and war movie The Hurt Locker lead the way at this year's Academy Awards with nine nominations each.


The battle will be James Cameron's Avatar, go head to head with his former wife, Kathryn Bigelow, who made The Hurt Locker, in the category of best director.

Other films shown in the film category included in the air, The Blind Side, precious and District 9.

Candidates in the UK are Colin Firth, Dame Helen Mirren and Carey Mulligan.

The British writer Nick Hornby, who brought education to the big screen, has also been nominated for an award in the category of best adapted screenplay.


Hornby is best known for a series of books that have been adapted and made into movies, including Fever Pitch, High Fidelity and About A Boy.

Writers Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche Armando Iannucci and were nominated in the adapted screenplay category at the circuit, based on the comedy show the thick of it.

Another British hopeful Nick Park, Wallace and Gromit capers A Matter of Loaf and Death.


Increased revenue

For the first time since 1944, the Oscar best-picture function 10 candidates instead of the five usual.

The list also includes the animated film, a serious man, Inglourious Basterds and education.

Firth is for her first Oscar for his role as a gay academic mourning the death of his partner in the feature fashion designer Tom Ford debut one man.

"I thought I was managing my expectations, but upon hearing that tone of voice found new and unknown. Perhaps I should do another musical," said the star of Mamma Mia.