Can Ruth Negga, Colin Farrell and John Carney Swing Oscar Nominations?

With the 2017 Academy Award nominations due to be announced at lunchtime today, the Irish hopefuls include the star of Loving, Ruth Negga (pictured), as well as the films Sing Street and The Lobster.

The nominations will be announced at the rather strange time of 1.18pm GMT.

Films presumed to be set for multiple nods include the highly acclaimed La La Land, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.

While Ruth Negga has been widely tipped for an Oscar nomination, for her role in a movie which received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May of 2016, the former Love/Hate star will face stiff competition to get onto the Best Actress shortlist.

Among those also in the frame are Emma Stone and Natalie Portman, both of whom seem certain to be nominated for their performances in La La Land and Jackie respectively. Meanwhile Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Amy Adams (Arrival), Annette Bening (20th Century Women) and Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) are also strong contenders for the remaining three places.

Among the big Irish movies, John Carney's musical romance, Sing Street, is in with a real chance in the Best Original Song category – in which his earlier indie hit Once triumphed with 'Falling Slowly' by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. But, as ever, the opposition is tough, with La La Land, the Disney hit Moana and Trolls tipped for nominations. Sing Street was recently nominated for a Golden Globe.

Meanwhile, The Lobster, a surreal comedy starring Colin Farrell, is in the running in the Best Original Screenplay category. The Lobster, produced by Dublin company Element Pictures and filmed in Kerry and Dublin, was supported by The Irish Film Board.

Other Irish Oscar hopefuls are said to include costume designer Consolata Boyle for her work on Florence Foster Jenkins and the brilliant cinematographer Séamus McGarvey for Nocturnal Animals.

Consolata Boyle, originally from Dublin, was previously nominated for her work on The Queen in 2007, while Armagh man McGarvey was shortlisted for Atonement in 2008 and Anna Karenina in 2013.