OSCARS(R) TO CELEBRATE MOVIE HEROES

The 86th Academy Awards(R) will be a celebration of movie heroes, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. Offering their first preview of the upcoming Oscar broadcast, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, the producers said the show will honor big-screen real-life heroes, super heroes, popular heroes and animated heroes, both past and present, as well as the bold filmmakers who bring them to life. The Oscars will air on SUNDAY, MARCH 2, live on ABC.

"We wanted to unify the show with an entertaining and emotional theme," said Zadan and Meron. "People around the world go to the movies to be inspired by the characters they see on the screen. By celebrating the gamut of heroes who have enriched our movie-going experience, we hope to create an evening of fun and joy. And that includes the filmmakers and actors who take risks and stimulate us with provocative subjects and daring characters. They are all heroes in the cinematic landscape."

"Of course, there will be no shortage of comedy with Ellen DeGeneres as our host," the producers added. "There may also be a few musical surprises along the way."

To coincide with the Oscar telecast theme, the Academy will present "The Oscars Celebrates Movie Heroes," an exhibition in the Grand Lobby Gallery of its Beverly Hills headquarters. On display Friday, January 17 through Wednesday, March 5, the show will feature still photographs and posters from 70 titles spanning nine decades, as well as video montages comprised of excerpts from classic and contemporary films. The exhibit will include films centered on real-life heroes ("Gandhi," "Silkwood"), super heroes ("Superman," "The Dark Knight"), animated heroes ("Shrek," "The Incredibles"), action heroes ("Seven Samurai," "Gladiator"), literary heroes ("To Kill a Mockingbird," "Grapes of Wrath") and more.

The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:35 a.m., PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater by Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Chris Hemsworth.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre(TM) at Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, will also be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.