The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have decided on a new format for Thursday’s Oscar nominations announcement. Chris Pine, Academy president Cheryl Boone-Isaacs and directors J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron will announce the nominees.

Abrams and Cuaron will announce the nominees for the technical awards first at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Then, Pine and Boone-Isaacs will take the podium to announce the major awards at 8:38 a.m. ET. It will be the first time that all 24 categories are announced live on stage.

“Each of the three years we’ve produced the show, we have attempted to refresh elements of the process and the telecast,” Oscars producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “This year, we’re honored to start a new tradition that celebrates the contributions of all the nominees by announcing all 24 categories. We’re thrilled that a distinguished actor and two world-class film directors are part of the initial launch.”

Here are the categories Cuaron and Abrams get to announce:
Animated Feature Film
Documentary Feature
Documentary Short Subject
Film Editing
Original Song
Production Design
Animated Short Film
Live Action Short Film
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects

Pine, who was directed by Abrams in Star Trek, and Boone-Isaacs will announce:
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing
Foreign Language Film
Makeup and Hairstyling
Original Score
Adapted Screenplay
Original Screenplay
Best Picture

The Oscars are set for Sunday, Feb. 22 on ABC at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the ceremony.

Pine was last seen in Horrible Bosses 2 and his next film is Z For Zachariah. Abrams is currently working on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Cuaron won an Oscar for directing Gravity last year and is also known for directing Children of Men.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com