The Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles was a hive of activity early this morning, as it is every year around this time, as they prepped to reveal to the expectant film industry worldwide the nominees of the 82nd Academy Awards®. 

The shortlist, announced by the Academy’s President Tom Sherak and actress Anne Hathaway, threw little surprises - with blockbuster and 3D sensation Avatar coming out on top after bagging nine nominations, on a par with indie war drama The Hurt Locker.

Alongside a Best Actress nomination for Chiswick-born Dame Helen Mirren, an array of London-shot films has been recognised with an Oscar® nomination this year. Rob Marshall’s star-studded musical Nine, which shot in Shepperton Studios and on location in the capital, is nominated in four categories - including Best Supporting Actress for last year’s winner Penélope Cruz. The professionals behind the film’s Original Score, Art Direction and Costume Design could also walk away with an award.

Meanwhile Ealing-shot An Education didn’t disappoint and picked up three sought-after nominations. The film made it into the Best Picture category and secured a nomination for London-born Carey Mulligan for her superb central performance. Nick Hornby’s adaptation of Lynn Barber’s autobiography was also acknowledged with a nomination for Best Original Script.

A further three nominations (Art Direction, Costume Design and Make-up) went to period drama The Young Victoria. The film, about the early years of the British sovereign and her short marriage to Albert and starring Emily Blunt, shot partly on location in London.

Following closely, with two nominations apiece are: animated feature Fantastic Mr. Fox (Best Animated Film and Original Score) - produced at 3 Mills studios; Sherlock Holmes (Art Direction and Original Score) and The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (Art Design and Costume Design) - both of which shot on the streets of London.

Armando Iannucci’s political satire In The Loop, which plays out between London Parliament and Washington, gained recognition for Best Adapted Script. Bright Star, based on the poet John Keats and shot partly in Hampstead Heath, also picked up a single nod (Costume Design), as did last year’s top performer in the UK box office, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, for Cinematography.

The winners will be announced at an undoubtedly glamorous ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on 7 March. If  forecasts for the Academy Awards® are right, Avatar could be revealed as the night’s biggest winner – a fact that Soho-based visual effects outlet Framestore will be celebrating, as they had a hand in developing the much lauded CGI.