Producers Guild Awards: Preview

The Producer's Guild Awards are being held on Saturday, January 22, 2011. Paula Wagner, who has produced such memorable work as the "Mission: Impossible" franchise alongside Tom Cruise, will be producing the 22nd Annual Producers Guild of America Awards. Judd Apatow, the award-winning producer and writer, will be the host of the ceremony.

Many people in show business look to this award ceremony as an indicator for the Academy Awards, as well as an honor in its own right. After all, according to "The Independent," the recipient of the biggest award of the night, the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award, often goes on to have the picture that wins the Oscar for best film.

The Producer's Guild of America is a trade organization. It represents producers in film, television and new media. Its current co-presidents are Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon. According to the guild's official website, its award ceremony aims to celebrate the best producing work of the year.

This year's award categories include: The Danny Thomas Producer of the Year Award in Episodic Television-Comedy; The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Non-Fiction Television; The Norman Felton Producer of the Year Award in Episodic Television-Drama; The David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Long-Form Television; and The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures.

The nominees for the 2011 Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures are: John Cohen, Janet Healy and Christopher Meledandri for "Despicable Me"; Bonnie Arnold for "How to Train Your Dragon"; and Darla K. Anderson for "Toy Story 3."

This nominees for the 2011 Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Theatrical Motion Picture are Danny Boyle and Christian Colson for "127 Hours"; Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy and Brian Oliver for "Black Swan"; Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan for "Inception"; Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin for "The King's Speech"; Dana Brunetti, Ceán Chaffin, Michael De Luca and Scott Rudin for "The Social Network"; Basil Iwanyk and Graham King for "The Town"; Gary Gilbert, Celine Rattray, and Jeffrey Levy-Hinte for "The Kids Are All Right"; David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg for "The Fighter"; Scott Rudin, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen for "True Grit"; and Darla K. Anderson for "Toy Story 3."

A full list of nominees is available at the Producers Guild of America Website.

While many nominees eagerly await their chances at the ceremony, some winners have already been established. James Cameron will be honored at the Producers Guild Awards with the 2011 Milestone Award for his strong body of work, including such modern classics as "Titanic" and "Avatar." Laura Ziskin will be honored with the Producers Guild's 2011 Visionary Award, and Sean Penn will receive the 2011 Stanley Kramer Award.