The Oscar frontrunners including ‘Avatar’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Up in the Air’, and ‘Precious’, are among the ten nominees for the Producers Guild of America’s top film honour, the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award.

Two science-fiction films, ‘District 9’ and ‘Star Trek’ have been seen as surprise nominations whereas Rob Marshall’s star-studded musical movie ‘Nine,’ featuring Daniel Day Lewis and Penelope Cruz has not been recognised, making it one of the biggest disappointments of the awards season.

The PGA also passed over the Coen Brothers’ dark comedy ‘A Serious Man,’ the Sandra Bullock hit ‘The Blind Side,’ and some other smaller films which had already acquired awards buzz.

There were only four films nominated for the PGA’s documentary award this year.

The PGA – which also recognises the best in television - will hand out awards at a black-tie gala ceremony on January 24 at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles.

Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures:

‘Avatar’

‘District 9’

‘An Education’

‘The Hurt Locker’

‘Inglourious Basterds’

‘Invictus’

‘Precious: Based on the novel push by Sapphire’

‘Star Trek’

‘Up’

‘Up in the Air’

Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:

‘District 9’

‘Coraline’

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

‘The Princess and the Frog’

‘Up’

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’