Image source, AP

The Martian may have been overlooked at the Screen Actors Guild awards - and its status as a comedy may be disputed - but the sci-fi thriller does have friends in high places.

The Ridley Scott blockbuster, about an astronaut stranded on Mars, has been named as President Obama's favourite film of 2015 - according to People magazine.

First lady Michelle Obama chose the animated hit Inside Out - surely a dead-cert for the best animated feature film category at the soon-to-be-announced Globes?

Attempts to shoehorn a film into an unexpected category has prompted some criticism.

This year, The Martian has been the subject of considerable discussion after the HFPA opted to place the Matt Damon sci-fi hit in the best comedy or musical category.

Trainwreck director Judd Apatow tweeted his thoughts in October.

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Foxx's daughter, model and actress Corinne Foxx, was announced as this year's Miss Golden Globe last month.

It's part of an annual tradition that sees the Hollywood Foreign Press Association give the daughter or son of a noted member of the film industry the honorary title.

"I've grown up watching my dad establish himself as a well-respected actor," said Corinne, after the title was announced. "I'm honored that HFPA has given me the opportunity to now share the same stage."

Corinne will assist with the ceremony on 10 January.

Freddie Prinze, Jr., Laura Dern, Melanie Griffith and her daughter, Dakota Johnson, have all been named Miss or Mr Golden Globe previously.  

Industry watchers and fans alike look to the Golden Globes for a steer on what could win out at the Oscars.

But, as last year proved, a win at the Globes doesn't make for a surefire Oscar win.

Boyhood emerged triumphant at last year's Globes, winning best drama and best director.

But the Oscars academy plumped for Birdman as its best film, and gave its creator, Alejandro G Inarritu, the best director prize.

There was no such division in the acting categories, with Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Julianne Moore (Still Alice), winning at both, and, in fact, at pretty much all 2015 award ceremonies.

The Golden Globes have long punched well above their weight when it comes to awards season.

The annual award shortlist is selected by a group of just 93 entertainment journalists and editors from around the world who make up the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The select group are wined and dined by Hollywood bigwigs who pitch their films and TV shows in their preferred categories - but ultimately it is the HFPA who decide what is nominated and in which category.

Some studios choose to pitch their films for the idiosyncratic best comedy and musical category, rather than the typically crowded best drama field - which explains why Harvey Weinstein has been insisting that Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight is actually a comedy...

This year, the organisation upset the apple cart when they opted to include both Carol's Rooney Mara and The Danish Girl's Alicia Vikander in the lead actress categories over supporting categories - leaving the best supporting actress field wide open.

Most pundits agree the Globes are wildly unpredictable, but they are accorded great respect in the industry - and, coming early in the season, often impact on January's Oscar nominations.

Expect the unexpected.

Angela Bassett, Dennis Quaid, America Fererra and Chloe Grace Moretz are the stars lined up to announce the nominations for the Golden Globes.

They are announced at 08:15 Eastern Time and 05:15 Pacific Time. The early start is to allow the news to make the morning shows in the US.

One of the presenters was definitely not looking forward to that early morning alarm call.

The Screen Actors Guild Award threw up some surprises yesterday - with a number of notable omissions from the shortlist. 

Among those snubbed were awards' darling Jennifer Lawrence, who has been tipped for yet another Oscar nomination for Joy, Michael Keaton for Spotlight and Sylvester Stallone for his Rocky comeback, Creed.

The Martian - and its star Matt Damon - will be hoping for better success at the Globes, having been completely overlooked at the SAGs. Producers have gone down the slightly bizarre route of putting it forward in the comedy/musical category. 

There was also no love for Quentin Tarantino's Hateful Eight or American football drama Concussion. 

In the TV shortlists there was no room for ratings hits Empire or Fargo, which won the best drama at the Globes last year.

Yesterday's Screen Actors Guild awards prompted a freefall of luvvie delight - and, with the Golden Globe nominations announced just 24 hours later - this is only the beginning...

Here's what some of yesterday's nominees told the LA Times, external.

Image source, AP

Image source, Reuters

Only two hours to go until this year's Golden Globe nominations are announced - just 24 hours after the Screen Actors Guild awards emphatically kicked off film awards season yesterday. 

We've been taking a look at what the industry insiders are saying, as awards momentum mounts...

Victoria Lindrea
BBC Entertainment and Arts reporter

Good morning!

Today we will be running a special live page covering the 73rd annual Golden Globe awards, which are announced in Hollywood at 13:00 GMT. 

Join us from 11:00, as we pick up on critical reaction to yesterday's Screen Actors Guild awards and report who the industry pundits are tipping to triumph at the Golden Globes.