Mystic, Rings among producers' picks

The best-picture nominations: Cold Mountain, with Jude Law as a Civil War deserter and Nicole Kidman as his lost love; The Last Samurai, with Tom Cruise as a disgraced Civil War officer who recovers his honor among Japanese warriors; and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which wraps up the story of Frodo and the quest to defeat evil.

The remaining nominees: Seabiscuit, the true story of an inspiring Depression era racehorse; director Clint Eastwood's Mystic River, about three grown friends scarred by crime; and the Russell Crowe high-seas adventure Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World.

The 15th Producers Guild awards are scheduled for presentation on January 17.

Honorary awards were set to be presented to actor-filmmaker Warren Beatty, producer Dino De Laurentiis, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels and Titanic director James Cameron.