And the HDN readers' Oscars go to...

ISTANBUL

This year, the Academy Awards will be held on Feb. 24.

The Hürriyet Daily News readers have selected their predictions for who will take home Oscars this year in a poll conducted ahead of Sunday's Oscar ceremony. According to movie critics, Ben Affleck's Iranian hostage drama "Argo" is seen as a favorite, just whiskers ahead of Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln." The Hollywood actor turned young director and the veteran director are also competing for the night’s best director award.

For the best actor award, "Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis overshadows his rivals, while the category for best actress has proved a lot more suspenseful. Jessica Chastain, who played a CIA agent hunting Osama bin Laden in “Zero Dark Thirty” and Jennifer Lawrence, who won accolades of praise for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook” after acquiring a start status thanks to the “Hunger Games” blockbuster franchise. Both women are serious contenders for the golden statuette.

But the public’s inclination may be another story than what the media and Hollywood experts have predicted. See if the Daily News readers hint at any surprises:

Best picture : Django Unchained

AP Photo/The WeinsteinCompany, Andrew Cooper, SMPSP

Best director: Stephen Spielberg

US director Stephen Spielberg speaks to the media on the red carpet during arrival for the European premiere of the film 'Lincoln' in Dublin on January 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / BARRY CRONIN

Best actor: Daniel Day Lewis

Actor Daniel Day Lewis portrays President Abraham Lincoln in the Steven Spielberg film "Lincoln" in this publicity photo released to Reuters February 21, 2013. REUTERS/David James/Dreamworks Pictures/Handout

Best actress: Jennifer Lawrence

This film image released by The Weinstein Company shows JenniferLawrence, left, and Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook." AP Photo/The Weinstein Company, JoJo Whilden, File

Best Supporting Actor : Christoph Waltz

Actor Christoph Waltz attends the UK premiere of DjangoUnchained in central London January 10, 2013. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway

This image released by Universal Pictures shows AnneHathaway as Fantine in a scene from "Les Misérables." AP Photo/Universal Pictures.

Best Foreign Language Film: Amour

This undated file film image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Jean-Louis Trintignant in a scene from the Austrian film, "Amour." AP Photo/Sony Pictures Classics, File

Best Animated Feature Film : Brave

In this undated publicity film image released by Disney/Pixar, the character Merida, voiced by Kelly Macdonald, follows a Wisp in a scene from "Brave." AP Photo/Disney/Pixar, File