By Kit Bowen
TheMovieKit.com

With mostly expected choices and a couple of surprises, The Producers Guild of America just announced their 10 best picture nominations. Since the PGA increased its number of nominees to 10 films, this year their picks carry even more significance as the Academy Awards will do the same thing come Feb. 2. So, here’s what the PGA nominated:

AVATAR
Producers: James Cameron, Jon Landau

DISTRICT 9
Producers: Carolynne Cunningham, Peter Jackson

AN EDUCATION
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey

THE HURT LOCKER
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Producer: Lawrence Bender

INVICTUS
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Rob Lorenz, Lori McCreary , Mace Neufeld

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
Producers: Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

STAR TREK
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof

UP
Producer: Jonas Rivera

UP IN THE AIR
Producer(s): Awaiting final credit determination

Are we looking at the Academy Awards’ Best Picture nods? It’s close, although I don’t believe “Star Trek” AND “District 9” will get nominated by Academy voters. It’ll be one or the other (and I’m leaning towards District 9). Entertainment Weekly also recently came out with their Best Pic predictions, in which they exclude “District 9” and “Star Trek” and replace them with “The Messenger” and “A Serious Man.” One thing is for certain: the musical “Nine,” which was once a seemingly surefire nomination, has been usurped. Poor reviews and low box office numbers has pretty much killed its chances.

The other PGA nominations include:

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

9
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
UP

PGA Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:

BURMA VJ
The COVE
SERGIO
SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION

David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Long-Form Television:

GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
GREY GARDENS
LITTLE DORRIT
PRAYERS FOR BOBBY
THE PRISONER
TAKING CHANCE

The PGA Awards will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium.