Oscar dates shift for 2009

Schedule set for nominations, Academy Awards

By JUSTIN KROLL

Oscar nominations will be unveiled Thursday, Jan. 22, with the ceremony Sunday, Feb. 22. Noms are traditionally announced on a Tuesday, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences pushed back the date due to the presidential inauguration Jan. 20.

According to the timetable released by AMPAS, nomination ballots for the 81st annual Academy Awards will be mailed out Dec. 26, with the ballots due back by 5 p.m. PT on Jan. 12.

After noms are unveiled Jan. 22, final ballots will be mailed out Jan. 28. Final polls close at 5 p.m. PT on Feb. 17.

The Nominees Luncheon will be held Feb. 2; the Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards will take place Feb. 7.

The 81st Academy Awards, to held at the Kodak Theater on Feb. 22, will be broadcast live on ABC.