Academy Award nominees, including fans are in for something new at Hollywood 's biggest party and can expect a lot of new things at the ceremony scheduled for 22nd February.

As the 112-contenders gathered for the Annual Nominees Luncheon, Sid Ganis, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told them this year categories would be presented in a completely different way, with cinematographers, editors, composers, especially, in for a big surprise.

Ganis did not elaborate, and while academy officials zipped their lips, nominees had plenty to say, as a mix of first-time contenders and old hands turned up at a news conference before the luncheon. Meryl Streep with a record 15-nominations, perpetual nominee Kate Winslet, Best Actress contender, nominated five times with zero wins, Robert Downey Jr. Mickey Rourke, nominated for his role in 'The Wrestler', Penelope Cruz, earning her second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a volatile artist in 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', all seemed to look forward to the whole Oscar ride.

'I am so happy to be part of a group of people that can work, that can make a living out of this profession that I've loved so much, since I was a little girl, that I really don't want to obsess about winning,' Cruz said.

Oscar newcomer Melissa Leo, up for Best Actress for her role in the border-smuggling drama 'Frozen River' and Frank Langella, a first-time nominee for his role as Richard Nixon in 'Frost/Nixon', said never thought about contending for an Oscar, but looked forward to this high-point in their careers. While, contender for Best Supporting Actress
- Viola Davis for her role in 'Doubt', summed up what it felt like for a first-time nominee to lunch with Oscar veterans, such as, Winslet, Downey, Cruz and Sean Penn.

'This is probably a morbid metaphor. People say if you're in a major accident and your whole life flashes before you, and of course, it's always all the important moments. This would be one of the moments that would flash.'

Axing the comedians, typical hosts of Oscars past, this year they will be hosted by Australian actor and song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman. This year, the telecast will '.be more of a party and a celebration', with a crush of celebrities expected to turn out, including Penn, Cruz, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep.