The Oscar red carpet is rolled out on Sunday in Los Angeles for the film industry's biggest event of the year.
It stretches 152 metres into the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and the nominees and celebrities will parade there before photographers and camera crews.
The Oscar winners are chosen in secret ballots by some 5800 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and handed out on live television.
After several years of little-seen movies, this year's nine best picture contenders have sold more than $A2 billion in tickets worldwide.
The BBC reports no film is expected to sweep the board. Hostage drama Argo has now overtaken Lincoln in most predictions for the best picture award.
Daniel Day-Lewis is favourite for best actor for his performance as President Abraham Lincoln. He previously won in 1990 for My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood in 2008.
All five nominees for best supporting actor have won Oscars before.
Best actress nominee Emmanuelle Riva, the leading lady in Amour, an old age drama set in Paris, could become the oldest actress to win an Oscar. The ceremony is on her 86th birthday.
The Oscar ceremony is due to start at 5.30pm Los Angeles time.
