Probably the only sure bet heading into the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday is that Ben Affleck won't be winning best director even though his film, "Argo," earned seven nominations. Our guide includes a ballot you can use to help you keep track of all of the action. We've also asked a few of Tucson's favorite film buffs to share their picks and predictions. Turn the page to find a peek at some of the movies hitting theaters this year.
On TV
The Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC starting at 6:30 p.m.
Best-Picture Nominees
Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
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Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
Lofty predictions
You'd be hard pressed to find three people in Tucson who watch more films each year than Peggy Johnson, JJ Giddings and Jeff Yanc - who are, respectively, the executive director, marketing and operations director, and the program director of The Loft Cinema. So for the Oscars we asked for a few predictions - who they think will win big on Sunday and who they believe should win:
Peggy Johnson / Will Win / Should Win
Best Picture: "Argo" / "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis ("Lincoln") / Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master")
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings") / Emmanuelle Riva ("Amour")
Best Director: Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln") / Michael Haneke("Amour")
Best Documentary: "The Invisible War" (By Tucsonan Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering) / "The Invisible War"
Best Foreign Film: "Amour" / "Amour"
JJ Giddings / Will Win / Should Win
Best Picture: "Silver Linings Playbook" / "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis ("Lincoln") / Daniel Day Lewis
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark 30") / Quvenzhané Wallis ("Beasts")
Best Director: David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook") / Behn Zeitlin ("Beasts")
Best Documentary: "Searching for Sugarman"/ "Invisible War"
Best Foreign Film: "Amour" / "Amour"
Jeff Yanc / Will Win / Should Win
Best Picture: "Argo" "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis / Joaquin Phoenix
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence / Emmanuelle Riva
Best Director: David O. Russell / Michael Haneke
Best Documentary: "The Gatekeepers" / "The Invisible War"
Best Foreign Film: "Amour" / "Amour"
If you go
Oscar Experience Tucson 2013
• What: This is the eighth year that the Fox Tucson Theatre has rolled out the red carpet on Oscar night. A fundraiser for the nonprofit theater, this is the only local event officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
"It's having fun with the glitz and glamour of the event," said Tamara Mack, the event's coordinator and red-carpet fashion host. Upward of 700 people are expected to turn out - dressed in everything from gowns and tuxedos to casual attire and cowboy hats.
• When: Program starts at 6 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
• Cost: $25 general admission includes light appetizers from Cafe a la C'arte and access to a Speakeasy complete with a live band and a cash bar, in addition to all of the Oscar programming projected on the big screen. VIP tickets are $125, which includes early admission (5 p.m.). priority seating, and access to upper-level lounge areas, a swag bag and appetizers and desserts from Agustín Brasserie and Enoteca.
Now playing at the Loft
The Loft Cinema , 3233 E. Speedway, has several nominees on its lineup:
• The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Animated Shorts 7 p.m. tonight.
• Best Picture: "Amour," "Beasts of the Southern Wild" are running now.
• Best Foreign Language Film: "A Royal Affair" ends today; "War Witch" opens Friday, "No" opens April 12.
• Best Documentary Feature: "The GateKeepers" opens March 29.
More nominees
Leading actor
Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”
Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”
Denzel Washington, “Flight”
Leading Actress
Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Emmanuelle Riva, “Amour”
Quvenzhane Wallis, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Naomi Watts, “The Impossible.”
Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, “Argo”
Robert De Niro, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”
Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained.”
Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, “The Master”
Sally Field, “Lincoln”
Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”
Helen Hunt, “The Sessions”
Jacki Weaver, “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Directing
Michael Haneke, “Amour”
Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”
Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”
David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook.”
