The 2012 Oscars nominations have been announced! Already there is a lot of buzz about the films that’s been nominated this year. Before we get into the details let’s look at what is OSCAR all about. The moment we hear Oscars, all we think is that it’s the most prestigious awards in the Movie Business.

An Academy Award is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)[1] to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season. The 84th Academy Awards, honoring films in 2011, will be held at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre on February 26, 2012. Billy Crystal will serve as host for the evening, replacing Eddie Murphy, who was originally slated to host.

Following are some of the amazing facts about Oscars, am sure reading this you’ll get into this Oscar Fever as well

• The first set of awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private brunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional honorary organization, maintains a voting membership of 5,783 as of 2012

• The 83rd Academy Awards was viewed by 37.36 million viewers across the Globe

• The price of a guest ticket to the very first ceremony, held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel($5 )

• The number of seconds each actor’s speech is restricted to, as of 2010 (45 sec) 

• The age of the youngest Oscar winner, Tatum O’Neal, who won best supporting actress for her role in the 1973 film Paper Moon (10 yrs) 

• Number of seats in the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., where the ceremony is held (3300) 

• TITANIC shares a different record for most nominations (14 out of 17 possible)

So are you ready for the 2012 Oscars nominees? Here you go….

Best Actor
Demian Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Nick Nolte – Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Best Actress
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help
Rooney Mara – The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer – The Help

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius
Alexander Payne
Martin Scorsese
Woody Allen
Terrence Malick

Best Original Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids
J.C. Chandor - Margin Call
Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris
Asghar Farhadi - A Separation

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Foreign Language Film
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation

Animated
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Do let us know your favorite Oscar moments and your favourite movie this year. Happy Viewing.