The poster for the 84th Academy Awards is shown in this undated publicity photograph released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 28, 2011. The art from the design firm of Blood&Chocolate features the iconic Oscar statuette alongside images from eight films spanning eight decades: “Gone with the Wind” (1939), “Casablanca” (1942), “Giant” (1956), “The Sound of Music” (1965), “The Godfather” (1972), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “Gladiator” (2000). - Reuters Photo

LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday sent out Oscar ballots to its members, who will select the nominees for Hollywood's top film honours.

The academy's 5,783 voting members must cast their ballots by January 13 to determine the Oscar nominations, which will be announced on January 24.

The Oscar statuettes will be handed out at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on February 26 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Oscars veteran Billy Crystal has stepped in to host this year's Academy Awards show, after actor Eddie Murphy pulled out following a row over a producer's anti-gay comments.

Crystal has hosted the top Hollywood awards show eight times before. He last hosted the event in 2004.