2015 Oscar nominations announced

What were your 2015 Oscar nomination predictions for Best Picture but, more importantly, which films do you think will walk away with the golden statues come Oscar night on Sunday, 22 February? Cinema Nouveau is lining up the Oscar-nominated films over the next two months for your viewing pleasure, and we want to know what you think of each film.

"We've all read the critics' reviews of these films, but what we are looking for is your review of the Oscar-nominated films - to display in our cinemas, on the big screen and posted on our social media platforms, for the South African movie-loving community to see, share and comment on," said Lola Gallant, Brand Manager of Cinema Nouveau at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.

According to the experts and movie critics, 'awards season' for the best of the best in the movie industry for 2014 is still wide open, but the excitement is mounting. The Golden Globes' winners were announced amid much fanfare from Beverly Hills on 11 January. The red carpet for the BAFTAS is currently being brushed up for those awards on 8 February and, with the 2015 Oscar nominations just in, the golden statues are being polished for the 87th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, from Hollywood on 22 February.

Worthy recipients?

Who do you think is going to lay their hands on those coveted Oscar statues? Were the winning films, directors, actors, actresses, directors, producers, composers and so on, worthy recipients of the industry's highest honour, in your view?

As the countdown begins, Cinema Nouveau wants you to join in this year's 'Oscar Buzz'. Watch any of the Oscar-nominated films in the Best Picture and other categories, post your short, sharp and pithy review on Facebook or Twitter - using the hashtag #OscarBuzz - and you could be in line to win some great weekly prizes: 35 in total over the seven-week period. The competition runs from today, Friday, 16 January till 9 March, 2015.

Apart from the weekly prizes: the winning review block-mounted and displayed in the foyers of the four Cinema Nouveau complexes in Joburg (Rosebank Mall), Pretoria (Brooklyn Mall), Durban (Gateway) and Cape Town (V&A Waterfront) - one lucky person will be the recipient of the grand prize: the Cinema Nouveau Reviewer of 2015.

The winner of this title will be selected by the Ster-Kinekor marketing team based on the best Oscar-nominated movie review posted on Facebook or Twitter using #OscarBuzz. The prize is a Ster-Kinekor Movie Premiere Card, which entitles the winner to free films at any Cinema Nouveau or Ster-Kinekor cinema for one year. The Cinema Nouveau Reviewer of 2015 will also be a special guest at pre-release screenings of select titles and premiers hosted by the cinema chain.

Said Gallant: "South Africans love the movies, and they love watching their favourite actors doing what they do best on the big screen. As the 2015 Oscar season officially kicks off today with this year's Academy Award nominations, we are inviting everyone to join in the excitement and anticipation that is the Oscars, by watching these great films and sharing their views on them.

Nominated for Best Picture

Eight films have been nominated for Best Picture, offering local movie lovers a feast of the best of the best on the big screen at Cinema Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor. They are:

• American Sniper - releases on 20 February;
• Birdman - released on 9 January;
• Boyhood - released in 2014;
• Selma - releases on 6 February;
• The Grand Budapest Hotel - released in 2014;
• The Imitation Game - releases on 23 January;
• The Theory of Everything - releases on 27 February; and
• Whiplash - releases on 20 February.

Follow the 'Oscar Buzz' with Cinema Nouveau on Facebook - Cinema Nouveau or on Twitter @nouveaubuzz. Join the conversation and post your reviews using #OscarBuzz.

For booking information, download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone and Blackberry smart phone to download the latest updates and news, and to book tickets from your handset. Go to www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi. Follow on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For information and queries, call Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437).