"The Shape of Water" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" two films favoured to win Best Picture Award

"The Shape of Water" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" are the two films being favored to win the Best Picture Award at the 90th Academy Awards this afternoon.

But "Get Out," "Lady Bird," and the war drama "Dunkirk" are also seen as contenders.       

The Shape of Water leads the field with 13 nominations.

The other best picture nominees are "The Post", "Darkest Hour," "Call Me By Your Name" and "Phantom Thread."

Meryl Streep is nominated for her 21st Academy Award for her performance in The Post.

The women behind the Time's Up campaign against sexual harassment are not planning an organized demonstration at the Oscars, but organizers say there will be a "moment" during the broadcast in recognition of the movement.

88-year-old Christopher Plummer is now the oldest actor to be nominated for an Oscar.

Plummer has been nominated for playing J. Paul Getty in All the Money in the World.

Best actor nominees are Gary Oldman for "Darkest Hour," Timothée Chalamet (Shelamay)for "Call Me By Your Name," Daniel Day Lewis for "Phantom Thread," Daniel Kaluuya for "Get Out" and Denzel Washington for "Roman J. Israel"

Best actress nominees are Frances McDormand for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" Saoirse (Chershea) Ronan for "Lady Bird," Sally Hawkins for "The Shape of Water," Meryl Streep for "The Post" and Margot Robbie "I, Tonya."

Jimmy Kimmel is the host again for the second year in a row the envelope mix up that saw La La Land accidentally named best picture last year instead of Moonlight.

During the show there will be performances from each best song nominee, including Common, Andra Day and Mary J Blige.

42‑year‑old actress Keala Settle who is a Hawaiian singer with Kiwi roots has also been nominated for the singing the song “This Is Me.” in the film The Greatest Showman.

The Oscars will start in the next hour.