300 Leads Saturn Awards Nominations

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The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films has announced the nominations for the 34th Annual Saturn Awards. Leading the nominations this year is 300 with 10 nominations. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix follows close behind with 9 nominations and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is represented with 8 nominations.

A trio of fantasty adventures: The Golden Compass, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Spider-Man 3 received 4 nominations each, while The Bourne Ultimatum, Eastern Promises, Enchanted, Grindhouse, Stephen King's The Mist, No Country for Old Men, Stardust and There Will Be Blood each received 3 nominations.

Paramount Pictures leads the studio in nominations this year with a total of 22 (combining the releases of Paramount, DreamWorks/Paramount, and Paramount Vantage). Following closely behind is Warner Bros. with 21 nominations. Buena Vista received a total of 10 nominations, with Sony Pictures capturing 9 nominations. The Weinstein Co. is represented this year with 8 nominations and New Line Cinema with 6 nominations.

In television, "Lost" dominated with 7 nominations. Showtime's "Dexter" carved an impressive 5 nominations and "Heroes" soared with 4 nominations.

The organization also announced two special awards to be given this year: Guillermo del Toro will receive the coveted George Pal Memorial Award. Author Tim Lucas has been selected to receive a Special Achievement Award for his 2007 book: Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark. This critical study of the film work of Director Mario Bava is a life long project and labor of love from author Lucas who spent over 20 years seeing the completion and eventual publication of the book, ably supported by his wife, Donna Lucas.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films is a non-profit organization devoted to honoring, recognizing and promoting genre entertainment. The organization was founded in 1972 by film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed. It is currently headed by film enthusiast Robert Holguin. This year's show will take place on Tuesday, June 24, in Universal City, California.