12 Years a Slave leads Satellite Awards nominations

12 Years A Slave, American Hustle and Gravity look set to dominate the International Press Academy’s 2014 Satellite Awards after scoring the bulk of the nominations. Steve McQueen’s acclaimed drama, about a black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 1800s, leads the list with 10 nods, followed by American Hustle and Gravity with eight apiece.
All three films will compete for the coveted Best Motion Picture prize along with Inside Llewyn Davis, Philomena, The Wolf of Wall Street, Saving Mr. Banks, All Is Lost and Blue Jasmine.
12 Years a Slave’s star Chiwetel Ejiofor is nominated for the Actor in a Motion Picture trophy and he will compete against Robert Redford (All Is Lost), Christian Bale (American Hustle), Tom Hanks, (Captain Phillips), Bruce Dern (Nebraska), Matthew McConaughey, (Dallas Buyers Club), and Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street).
Gravity star Sandra Bullock will fight for the best actress award alongside Meryl Streep (August: Osage County), Dame Judi Dench (Philomena), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Color), and Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks).
The best directing category includes Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine), Ethan and Joel Cohen (Inside Llewyn Davis), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips), Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), David O. Russell (Hustle), and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street).
In the TV categories, popular drama Breaking Bad topped the list of nominees with four, along with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
Special honours will go to moviemaker Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station, while his movie’s star Michael B. Jordan will receive a breakthrough performance award along with The Book Thief’s Sophie Nelisse. Nebraska has been named Best Ensemble, Motion Picture; and Orange Is the New Black landed Best Ensemble, Television.
The Satellite Awards ceremony will be held on 9 March (14) in Los Angeles.