“Birdman” and “Boyhood,” two of the front-runners for Hollywood’s film honors this year, were nominated along with a slew of* small movies on Monday for the top Producers Guild Award, a reliable predictor of the best picture Oscar.

    Among the 10 films nominated for outstanding producer in the motion picture were drama “Nightcrawler” and the tale of a drummer’s obsession in “Whiplash,” both small independent films with Oscar chances.

    The notable exclusions* were two films that opened on December 25, Angelina Jolie’s second film as a director, the World War II survival story “Unbroken,” and the civil rights drama “Selma.”

    Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of an Iraq war hero in “American Sniper” made the list, as did two British biopics, “The Imitation Game” and “The Theory of Everything.”

    Rounding out the nominations were the film adaptation* of the novel “Gone Girl,” the American wrestling tragedy “Foxcatcher” and the comedy “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

    “Birdman,” a satire* of show business, and “Boyhood,” a coming-of-age drama filmed over 12 years with the same actors, are the favorites going into the awards season that kicks off next Sunday with the Golden Globe Awards.

    The Producers Guild of America has 6,700 members, and in its 25 years handing out its top award has managed to choose the eventual winner of the Academy Award for best picture for the last seven years. The PGA hands out its awards on January 24, while the Oscars are held on Feburary 22.

    In the animated motion picture category, the PGA nominated blockbusters “Big Hero 6,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “The LEGO Movie,” and smaller films “The Book of Life” and “The Boxtrolls.”(SD-Agencies)