Epic films face producers battle

US Civil War drama Cold Mountain stars Nicole Kidman and Jude Law

The final Lord of the Rings movie and Cold Mountain are among the films in the running to be voted best release of 2003 by Hollywood producers.

The other nominations for best picture at the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards are Master and Commander, Mystic River, The Last Samurai and Seabiscuit.

The PGA is one of the main Hollywood trade bodies and its awards ceremony is one of many that point to the Oscars.

An honorary award will go to director James Cameron at the January ceremony.

Actor and producer Warren Beatty will also get an honorary award, as will veteran Italian Dino De Laurentiis and Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.

TV nominations

The PGA best picture winner has gone on to be named best film at the Oscars in 10 of the last 14 years.

Last year, the PGA prize went to musical Chicago - which was also the big Oscars winner.

The PGA Awards also have a section for TV shows. In those categories, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The West Wing were among those nominated for best drama.

Alias, Six Feet Under and 24 are the other shows in the running.

In the comedy section, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in the Middle, Scrubs, Sex and the City and Will and Grace were nominated.

The awards will be handed out on 17 January in Los Angeles.