Adaptation, Chicago, Gangs Of New York, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Road To Perdition and The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers will chase the main theatrical honour at the 14th Producers Guild of America Annual Awards on Mar 2. The six pictures were nominated today (Jan 16) for the Darryl F Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures category. The producers of each title will be announced in approximately two weeks once the PGA has completed its producer accreditation process.

However, some notable films were not included - The Hours, The Pianist, About Schmidt and Far From Heaven among them.

The PGA Awards have become a decent barometer of Oscars success, with nine winners from the past 13 years going on to scoop the Best Picture Academy Award, including Gladiator in 2000 and American Beauty in 1999. Last year's winner, Moulin Rouge, failed to translate its PGA success into Oscar glory, eventually losing out to A Beautiful Mind.

The talent guild will also present a series of honorary awards. The Milestone Award for leadership will go to Motion Picture Association of America president Jack Valenti; Robert Evans is recognised for his body of work with the David O Selznick Lifetime Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures; George Lucas is to receive the Vanguard Award for outstanding achievement in new media and technology; Rita Wilson, whose tenacity transformed a one-woman stage act into My Big Fat Greek Wedding, will receive the Visionary Award; and Antwone Fisher producers Todd Black and Denzel Washington will be presented with the second Stanley Kramer Award for highlighting a provocative social issue. The 2003 PGAwards will take place on Mar 2 in Los Angeles.