Scarlett Johansson to Host Academy's Sci-Tech Awards
Beverly Hills, CA—Actress Scarlett Johansson will present the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday, February 12, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.

The creators of two camera crane systems will receive Oscar® statuettes, which will be among the 15 awards presented at the gala black tie dinner. Horst Burbulla will receive an Oscar for the creation and development of the Technocrane telescoping camera crane, which has redefined camera crane technology. Oscar statuettes also will be presented to Jean-Marie Lavalou, Alain Masseron and David Samuelson for engineering and developing the Louma Camera Crane and remote system for motion picture production. The Louma has served as the inspiration for many subsequent remote camera systems.

The Gordon E. Sawyer Award, also an Oscar statuette, will be presented during the ceremony to Takuo Miyagishima for his lifetime of technological contributions to the industry.

Portions of the Oscar presentations will be taped for inclusion in the February 27 Academy Awards® broadcast.

Johansson, who currently stars in the romantic comedy In Good Company and the drama A Love Song for Bobby Long, made her screen debut in the 1994 film North. Her other film credits include Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Ghost World and The Horse Whisperer.

She recently completed shooting the Woody Allen comedy Match Point and is currently filming Michael Bay's sci-fi thriller The Island. Her upcoming projects include The Black Dahlia and Mission: Impossible III.

Johansson will appear live on the Oscar telecast to introduce the Sci-Tech segment.

Scientific and Technical Awards are presented by the Academy for devices, methods, formulas, discoveries or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2004 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST, beginning with a half-hour arrival segment.