How are the Oscars decided

A.� The 5,607�members of �the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences are responsible for the nominating the voting of the Academy Awards. The members include past winners, directors, actors and industry executivies.

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Q.� Why do the Oscars matter so much

A.� A nomination, particularly if it leads to an award, has the power to make careers and transform moderate films into blockbusters. For the financiers, it can make the difference between a moderate return on an investment or a windfall. The run-up to nominations and the big night sees some of the most sophisticated and expensive lobbying outside the US presidential elections.

Voting for nominations between November and the end of January is controlled among great secrecy by auditors Price Waterhouse-Coopers.

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For members, the trade's three most influential industry publications - Hollywood Reporter, Screen International and Variety - are packed with full colour page ads 'for your consideration' imploring the members to vote for this actor, actress or director.� Funded by a combination of the studios that make the films and the companies that distribute them, the ads are followed by mailing campaigns that see videos of films in contention and invitations to exclusive screenings, often with introductions to the actors or directors..

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The ceremony attracts a global audience of over one billion people and it means celebrities can double or triple their salaries overnight.

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For film winners such as The English Patient, Shakespeare In Love and My Left Foot, nominations and awards meant a huge leap in box office takings..

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Q.� When are this year's awards

A.� The red carpet is being dusted down in preparation for the 74th�Academy Awards, which will be held this year on March 24 in LA.

Nominations include: Best Picture - A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In The bedroom, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge.

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Best Actor: Russell Crowe, Sean Penn, Wil Smith, Denzel Washington, Tom Wilkinson.

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Best Actress: Halle Berry, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sissy Spacek, Renee Zellweger.

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For more film and TV questions and answers, click here

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By Katharine MacColl