Benjamin Button leads Oscar field

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has emerged as the frontrunner for this year's Oscars with 13 nominations.

Slumdog Millionaire, from Britain's Danny Boyle, was close behind with 10 nominations, including best film.

Dark Knight and Milk received eight nominations, with the late Heath Ledger receiving a best supporting actor nod.

Meryl Streep scored a 15th Oscar nomination for her role in the film Doubt, alongside Kate Winslet for best actress in Stephen Daldry's The Reader.

Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire are joined by Milk, The Reader and Frost/Nixon as contenders for the coveted best picture prize.

BEST FILM NOMINEES The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire

Also in contention for the best actress prize are Anne Hathaway, for Rachel Getting Married, Melissa Leo for Frozen River and Angelina Jolie for The Changeling.

Jolie is joined on the nominations list by real-life partner Brad Pitt, who leads the best actor nominations for his role as Benjamin Button - a man who ages in reverse.

Pitt goes head to head with Frank Langella, for his role as disgraced US president Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, Sean Penn, as gay rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk, Richard Jenkins for The Visitor and recent Golden Globe winner Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler.

The awards will be announced on 22 February at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.