INTERNATIONAL: The OSCARS 94th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will honor the best films released between March 1 and December 31, 2021, and is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on March 27, 2022.

Dark Western "The Power of the Dog" led the field of this year's Academy Award contenders, landing 12 nominations on Tuesday ,February 8, including one for the prestigious best picture trophy. The Power of the Dog is a 2021 Western psychological drama film, written and directed by Jane Campion. It is based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel of the same name. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

The Netflix film will compete for the top prize with science-fiction epic "Dune," which scored 10 nominations; drama "Belfast," about a family living amid conflict in late 1960s Northern Ireland; deaf community film "CODA;" and "Don't Look Up," an allegory about climate change.

Other best picture nominees included Japanese drama "Drive My Car," "King Richard," about the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams; coming-of-age story "Licorice Pizza;" thriller "Nightmare Alley;" and Steven Spielberg's remake of "West Side Story."

Best Actor Nominees are ; Javier Bardem - "Being the Ricardos";Benedict Cumberbatch - "The Power of the Dog";Andrew Garfield - "tick, tick...BOOM!";Will Smith - "King Richard"; Denzel Washington - "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

And for Best Actress ; Jessica Chastain - "The Eyes of Tammy Faye";Olivia Colman - "The Lost Daughter";Penelope Cruz - "Parallel Mothers";Nicole Kidman - "Being the Ricardos";Kristen Stewart - "Spencer.”

For Best Director ; the nominees are Paul Thomas Anderson - "Licorice Pizza"; Kenneth Branagh - "Belfast”; Jane Campion - "The Power of the Dog";Ryusuke Hamaguchi - "Drive My Car"; Steven Spielberg - "West Side Story".

Best Supporting Actor ; Ciaran Hinds - "Belfast";Troy Kotsur - "CODA";Jesse Plemmons - "The Power of the Dog";J.K. Simmons - "Being the Ricardos";Kodi Smit-McPhee - "The Power of the Dog".

And for Best Supporting Actress; Jessie Buckley - "The Lost Daughter";Ariana DeBose - "West Side Story";Judi Dench - "Belfast";Kirsten Dunst - "The Power of the Dog";Aunjanue Ellis - "King Richard".

The awards will be presented on March 27.