MUMBAI: Fifteen of the 20 nominees in the acting categories will be among 120 Academy Award nominees who will gather at noon on 2 February, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors this year’s Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon.

From the leading actor and actress categories, Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke, Anne Hathaway, Melissa Leo and Kate Winslet are expected to attend. Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Marisa Tomei, Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Shannon will represent the supporting actress and actor categories.

All five nominees from the directing category – Danny Boyle, Stephen Daldry, David Fincher, Ron Howard and Gus Van Sant – also are expected to attend.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on 22 February, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.