LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nomination ballots for the annual Oscar Awards were mailed on Tuesday to the 5,810 voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to the Beverly Hills-based organizer.

    Completed ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. Jan. 12 to accounting agency PricewaterhouseCoopers, whose staff would then compile the nominations list to be announced 10 days later.

    The awarding ceremony for the 81st Academy Awards is scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

    Australian actor Hugh Jackman has been named as the host of this year's Oscars show, which was previously helmed by big-name comedians, as part of the organizers' strategy to make an image change and woo new audience.