RADCLIFFE director Danny Boyle is on course for Oscar success after his acclaimed movie Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 gongs.

Boyle's film triumphed at Golden Globes but he will be hoping to top that by winning a clutch of awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

The nominations were unveiled by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker in Los Angeles.

Slumdog Millionaire, set in Mumbai, was named best film, while Danny Boyle won best director at the Golden Globes earlier this month.

The rags-to-riches tale - about an orphan from Mumbai who competes on the Hindi version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - is up for Best Picture and Best Director (Danny Boyle) as well as scooping nods in a slew of other categories.

It has also featured highly in the Bafta nominations, collecting 11 nods including best actor for newcomer Dev Patel.

Dev said: "It's just amazing. For Slumdog Millionaire to be included in the nominations for the Oscars is a huge honour. When we first began working on the film I don't think any of us ever imagined that we might end up attending the Oscars ceremony as a result. I'm just so proud to be a part of this project and I've been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the film. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. I truly feel blessed."

Prior to Slumdog, Patel's only acting experience was in the teen drama series Skins.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads the Academy Awards with 13 nominations, including best picture, and acting honors for Brad Pitt and Taraji Phenson, and a directing slot for David Fincher.

Other best picture nominees are Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader.

Heath Ledger has a supporting actor nomination for "The Dark Knight," but the Batman blockbuster has been shut out for other top categories, such as best picture and director.

The winners will be announced in Los Angeles on 22 February.

Here is the shortlist for the 81st Academy Awards, which are being held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on 22 February.

Best picture

Slumdog Millionaire

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Best director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Stephen Daldry - The Reader

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Gus Van Sant - Milk

Best actor

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn - Milk

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best actress

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best supporting actress

Amy Adams - Doubt

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis - Doubt

Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best supporting actor

Josh Brolin - Milk

Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best foreign language film

Revanche - Austria

The Class - France

The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany

Departures - Japan

Waltz With Bashir - Israel

Best animated feature film

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

Wall-E

Best adapted screenplay

Slumdog Millionaire

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Doubt

Frost/Nixon

The Reader

Best original screenplay

Happy-Go-Lucky

Milk

Wall-E

In Bruges

Frozen River