Actors Michael B. Jordan and Kristen Bell have been picked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences to hand out the Science and Technical Awards in February.
“We are thrilled to have Kristen and Michael join us as hosts for this year’s Sci-Tech Awards,” AMPAS president Cheryl Boone-Isaacs said in a statement. “They are bright, young talents in the film community and will be a great addition to a night that honors the industry’s technical achievements.”
The recipients of the special awards were announced on Jan. 9. There are 19 awards handed to 52 individuals.
However, for the first time, the Academy Award of Merit is going to a group instead of an individual. The Academy is honoring the hard work of film laboratory technicians, who have helped develop film since the art of moviemaking began. A special Oscar will have a plaque that reads, “To all those who built and operated film laboratories, for over a century of service to the motion picture industry.”
Bell and Jordan are both rising stars in Hollywood. Bell recently lent her voice to Disney’s Frozen, which is up for the best Animated Feature Oscar and Best Original Song for “Letting Go.” She is also playing Veronica Mars once again in the upcoming, fan-funded film adaptation. She also stars on Showtime's House of Lies.
As for Jordan, he impressed audiences last year with Fruitvale Station, in which he starred as Oscar Grant. His next film is That Awkward Moment with Zac Efron, which opens on Friday.
The Sci-Tech awards are set for Feb. 15 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and will be recognized during the Oscars telecast on March 2. Ellen DeGeneres is hosting the Oscars.
image: CBS/Showtime