Oscars 2014: A Brief Look at the Nominees

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Oscar voting closes today, which means the fate of the nominees is sealed, albeit still unknown. Here is a brief look at some of this year's contenders:

(L-R) Producers Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner, actress Lupita Nyong'o, and screenwriter John Ridley, hold the award they won for Outstanding Motion Picture "12 Years A Slave" backstage at the 45th NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on February 22, 2014. The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. UPI/Ken Matsui

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Best Picture American Hustle Captain Phillips Dallas Buyers Club Gravity Her Nebraska Philomena 12 Years a Slave The Wolf of Wall Street

12 Years a Slave took home Best Motion Picture, Drama last month at the Golden Globes, and is up for nine Academy Awards at this year's ceremony.

Actor Matthew McConaughey attends the 86th annual Academy Awards nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills, California on February 10, 2014. UPI/Jim Ruymen

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Best Actor Christian Bale in American Hustle Bruce Dern in Nebraska Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyer's Club

Matthew McConaughey won Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama for his role in Dallas Buyers Club at this year's Golden Globes, and is the favorite to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett attends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2014 at The Royal Opera House in London on February 16, 2014. UPI/Paul Treadway

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Best Actress Amy Adams in American Hustle Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine Sandra Bullock in Gravity Judi Dench in Philomena Meryl Streep in August: Osage County

Cate Blanchett won Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for her role in Blue Jasmine at this year's Golden Globes. She has received numerous Oscar nominations in the past, and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2003 for her role in The Aviator.

Actor Jared Leto arrives for the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 12, 2014. UPI/Jim Ruymen

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Best Actor in a Supporting Role Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips Bradley Cooper in American Hustle Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave Jonah Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club

Jared Leto won this year's Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. His performance as a transgender woman in Dallas Buyers Club has earned him significant critical praise.

Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives for the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 12, 2014. UPI/Jim Ruymen

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Best Actress in a Supporting Role Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave Julia Roberts in August: Osage County June Squibb in Nebraska

Jennifer Lawrence stunned in a white gown at this year's Golden Globes and walked away with Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in American Hustle. The 23-year-old actress has recently expressed her intent to take a year off from acting.

Director Alfonso Cuaron attends the 86th annual Academy Awards nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills, California on February 10, 2014. UPI/Jim Ruymen

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Best Director Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave Alexander Payne for Nebraska David O. Russell for American Hustle Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

Alfonso Cuaron won this year's Best Director Golden Globe for Gravity. Cuaron is also well-known for directing Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Children of Men.

The 2014 Academy Awards ceremony will take place this Sunday, March 2nd. Ellen DeGeneres will host.

See a full list of this year's nominees here.