LOS ANGELES - THE race for glory at next year's Oscars got underway on Tuesday as nomination ballot papers were posted to voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Some 5,810 Oscars voters were to receive the voting forms roughly one month ahead of the official nominations announcement on January 22. Ballots must be returned by January 12 to be valid, the Academy said.

A second round of ballots will be mailed out after the nomination announcement where members will cast their decisive votes to determine the winners at the February 22 awards in Hollywood.

This year's Oscars are believed to be one of the most wide open in years, with no film yet emerging as a clear favorite across multiple categories.

Early front-runners for the best picture prize include Mumbai-based rags-to-riches love story 'Slumdog Millionaire' and period drama 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', starring Brad Pitt as a man who ages in reverse.

The acting awards are expected to see a slew of heavyweight names in contention, with Pitt, Sean Penn, Clint Eastwood and Mickey Rourke tipped in the best actor race, and Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and Angelina Jolie all possible contenders in the best actress category. -- AFP