LOS ANGELES • Fox Searchlight's fantasy drama The Shape Of Water, about a woman who falls in love with a strange river creature, led the Oscar nominations yesterday with 13 nods, including the top prize for Best Picture.

It will contend with gay romance film Call Me By Your Name, British World War II dramas Darkest Hour and Dunkirk, racial thriller Get Out, mother-daughter tale Lady Bird, romance flick Phantom Thread, press freedom movie The Post and dark comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri for the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood on March 4.

The Shape Of Water earned nominations in all major categories, including for its director Guillermo del Toro and actors Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spencer.

Dunkirk from Warner Bros followed with eight nods, including for director Christopher Nolan.

Three Billboards, also from Fox Searchlight, had seven, including acting nominations for Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell.

Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig became only the fifth woman ever to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar.

The movie also won a lead actress nomination for Saoirse Ronan and for supporting actress Laurie Metcalf.

REUTERS