In pictures: Oscar nominees

1 of 9 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King leads the race for the Academy Awards after picking up 11 nominations.

2 of 9 Keisha Castle-Hughes, 13, was a surprise best actress nominee for her role in Whale Rider.

3 of 9 Diane Keaton's return to the big screen in Something's Gotta Give also sees her competing for best actress.

4 of 9 Sean Penn's best actor nomination was one of six awarded to Mystic River, including best director for Clint Eastwood.

5 of 9 Bill Murray's lead role in the critically-acclaimed comedy Lost in Translation also won him recognition.

6 of 9 The academy also nominated Lost in Translation's director Sofia Coppola, daughter of film-maker Francis Ford Coppola.

7 of 9 Peter Weir is among those competing for the coveted best director Oscar for his 18th Century sea adventure Master and Commander.

8 of 9 Jude Law's role in the American Civil War drama Cold Mountain won him a best actor nomination but his co-star Nicole Kidman missed out.

9 of 9 If Sir Ben Kingsley (right), star of House and Sand and Fog, wins the Oscar for best actor, he will add it to his statuette for Gandhi.