It’s that time of the year when Oscar Fever hits the entertainment community and film fans around the world. This will build to the crescendo of the annual Academy Awards Presentation live on Movie Magic (February 29 at 03h00) and a delayed broadcast on M-Net (March 1 at 20h00).

After nearly three-quarters of a century of recognising excellence in filmmaking achievement, the presentation of the Oscars has become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' most famous activity. The Academy Awards Presentation is also the activity that has enabled the organisation to maintain its varied year-round calendar of programs and events and a wide-ranging educational and cultural agenda.

Since 1929 all voting for Academy Awards has been conducted by secret ballot and tabulated by the impartial auditing firm that maintain the secrecy; the results of the balloting until the now-famous envelopes are opened on stage during the Awards program.

Last year’s theme of the Oscars was about the history and elegance of the Academy’s diamond anniversary. This year is all about the fun and excitement, the flash and pizzazz of Oscar Night. Catherine Zeta Jones has already been announced as the first presenter at the 76th Academy Awards. She won a Supporting Actress Oscar last year for the role of Velma Kelly in Best Picture winner - Chicago. She recently starred in Intolerable Cruelty and will be seen next in The Terminal.

The 76th Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Movie Magic (DStv channel 4) on February 29 at 03h00 while M-Net will carry the delayed broadcast on March 1 at 20h00.