Giant Oscars statuettes have been moved into position

More than 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had until 1700 Los Angeles time on Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday) to vote.

The winners in the 24 categories will be revealed at a glittering ceremony at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on Sunday.

Crime drama The Departed is bookmakers' favourite to be named best picture.

It is thought to be leading the race ahead of Babel and Little Miss Sunshine.

Dame Helen Mirren is expected to add an Oscar to her host of best actress awards for The Queen, which is also up for best picture alongside Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima.

Seating has been erected outside the Kodak Theatre

Martin Scorsese is tipped to take his first best director Oscar for The Departed after five previous nominations in the category.

Preparations for the event are under way, with giant Oscars statuettes in place and grandstand seating erected outside the Kodak Theatre.

A flurry of specialist film awards ceremonies were held in Hollywood at the weekend as the countdown to the 79th Academy Awards entered its final stages.

The writers of Children of Men won the Scripter Award for best adaptation of a book.

Casino Royale, Curse of the Golden Flower and Pan's Labyrinth were the big winners at the Production Design Awards.

Best production design went to Casino Royale, while Curse of the Golden Flower won in the period film category and Pan's Labyrinth's took the prize for a fantasy film.

The Costume Designers Guild honoured The Queen and TV series Elizabeth I at its ninth annual awards ceremony.