The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 2013 Academy Awards on Thursday and "Lincoln" leads with 12 nominations.

The film received nods for Best Picture, Best Director for Steven Spielberg, and acting honors for Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones, among others.

"Life of Pi,"  about a young man shipwrecked who shares a lifeboat with a tiger, received 11 nominations followed by the musical "Les Miserables" and the comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" with eight nominations each. "Argo" earned seven.

In the Best Picture category, Spielberg's film is up against "Zero Dark Thirty," directed by his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow.

Bigelow was not nominated this year in the Best Director category. If Spielberg wins the honor, he will be among Hollywood legends such as John Ford, Frank Capra, and William Wyler, the only directors to have won three or more Oscars in the specific category.

In the Best Actor category, Day-Lewis competes against Bradley Cooper ("Silver Lining Playbook") and Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables), two actors that are nominated for their first Oscar this year. Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master") is nominated for the third time in his career. However, the fifth nominee in the category has been victorious in the past. Denzel Washington ("Flight") has two Oscars under his belt - for a lead role in 2001's "Training Day" and a suppporting role in 1989's "Glory." 

"Lincoln" is the story of U.S President Abraham Lincoln's battle to end slavery. The film received 10 BAFTA nominations on Wednesday including ones for best film, actor, supporting actor and supporting actress. Spielberg was not nominated. "Les Miserables" and "Life of Pi" followed with nine BAFTA nominations each, while the latest James Bond installment, "Skyfall," garnered eight.

The Oscars will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane and will air on Feb. 24 on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.  For a full list of the night's nominees click here.

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