Over 270 films will battle for one of the 10 Best Picture Oscar nominations.
To be eligible for 82nd Academy Awards consideration, feature films must open in a commercial cinema in Los Angeles County by midnight on 31 December for a run of at least seven consecutive days.
Candidates must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format, according to Academy rules.
Early favourites include Up In The Air and The Hurt Locker - the two films have won the bulk of the season's big honours so far.
The Oscar nominations will be announced on 2 February. The Academy Awards will take place on 7 March.
WENN.com