Universal City, CA, Jan. 14 –American Cinema Editors (ACE) today announced nominations for the 61st Annual ACE Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing in nine categories of film, television and documentaries. Winners will be revealed during ACE’s 61st annual black-tie awards ceremony on Saturday, February 19, 2011 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Christopher Nolan will receive the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award. Two Career Achievement honorees will be announced next week. The ACE Eddie Awards is considered an integral precursor to the Oscars®. No film has won Best Picture at the Oscars without also having received at least a Best Editing nomination since Ordinary People in 1981. Since the ACE membership boasts a very high crossover within its membership of Academy members, it is considered a very accurate bellwether for the eventual Oscar outcome.:

NOMINEES FOR 61st ANNUAL ACE EDDIE AWARDS

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC):
Black Swan
Andrew Weisblum, A.C.E.

The Fighter
Pamela Martin

Inception
Lee Smith, A.C.E.

The King’s Speech
Tariq Anwar

The Social Network
Angus Wall, A.C.E. & Kirk Baxter

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL):
Alice in Wonderland
Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E.

Easy A
Susan Littenberg

The Kids Are All Right
Jeffrey M. Werner

Made in Dagenham
Michael Parker

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Despicable Me
Gregory Perler & Pam Ziegenhagen

How To Train Your Dragon
Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. & Darren T. Holmes, A.C.E.

Toy Story 3
Ken Schretzmann & Lee Unkrich, A.C.E.

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY:
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Tom Fulford & Chris King

Inside Job
Chad Beck & Adam Bolt

Waiting For “Superman”
Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Greg Finton & Kim Roberts

BEST EDITED HALF-HOUR SERIES FOR TELEVISION:
The Big C: “Pilot”
Brian A. Kates, A.C.E.

Modern Family: “Family Portrait”
Jonathan Schwartz

Nurse Jackie: “Years of Service”
Anne McCabe

BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
Breaking Bad: “Sunset”
Kelly Dixon

Friday Night Lights: “I Can’t”
Mark Conte, A.C.E.

Glee: “Journey”
Bradley Buecker, Doc Crotzer, Joe Leonard & John Roberts

The Good Wife: “Running”
Scott Vickrey, A.C.E.

The Walking Dead: “Days Gone Bye”
Hunter Via

BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
Boardwalk Empire: “Pilot”
Sidney Wolinsky, A.C.E.

Dexter: “Take It!”
Louis Cioffi, A.C.E.

Treme: “Do You Know What it Means”
Kate Sanford, A.C.E. & Alexander Hall

BEST EDITED MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION:
The Pacific: “Okinawa”
Marta Evry, A.C.E. & Alan Cody, A.C.E.

Temple Grandin
Leo Trombetta, A.C.E.

You Don’t Know Jack
Aaron Yanes

BEST EDITED REALITY SERIES:
The Deadliest Catch: “Redemption Day”
Kelly Coskran & Josh Earl

If You Really Knew Me: “Colusa High”
Rob Goubeau, Jeremy Gantz, Hilary Scratch, Ken Yankee, Mark S. Andrew, A.C.E., Heather Miglin, John Skaare & Paul J. Coyne

Whale Wars 3: “Vendetta”
Yvette Mangassarian-Amirian, Eric Myerson, Michael Caballero, David Michael Maurer & Edward Salier, A.C.E.

Final Ballots will be mailed on January 20 with polls closing on February 4. The Blue Ribbon panels where judging for all television categories and the documentary film category take place January 29. Projects in the aforementioned categories are viewed and judged by panels comprised of professional editors (all ACE members). All 600+ ACE members vote during the final balloting of the ACE Eddies, including active members, life members, affiliate members and honorary members.

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.