'Dreamgirls' leads race for 79th Oscars

Dreamgirls has emerged the forerunner for this year's Oscars race, garnering eight nominations.

The musical film, starring Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Beyonce Knowles, has three nominations in the best song category and a best supporting actor nod for Murphy, while Jennifer Hudson stands to win the award for best supporting actress.

The nominees for the 79th annual Academy Awards were announced this afternoon at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theatre by Academy President Sid Ganis and former nominee Salma Hayek.

Battling it out for the award for best picture will be Little Miss Sunshine, Babel, The Departed, The Queen, and Letters From Iwo Jima. The directors of the latter four will also be hoping for the award in direction, along with Paul Greengrass for his 9/11-themed United 93.

Forest Whitaker is likely to be a favourite for the best actor award for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, competing with Ryan Gosling, Peter O'Toole, Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, Britain is well represented in the best actress category, with Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren all in line for the honour.

Ellen DeGeneres will host the awards ceremony on Sunday February, 25.

Click here for the full list of nominees.