This year, the Original screenplay category is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in a long time.

The category differs from Adapted screenplay as the story of the film has to be completely original and cannot be based on any source material.

Recent winners in this category include "Her," "Django Unchained," "Midnight in Paris" and "The King's Speech."

The biggest contender in this category at the moment is Richard Linklater's "Boyhood." The film has been hailed as one of the most original films ever made and has been receiving universal praise. Linklater has been nominated twice in this category and this year he may have a chance since his movie was shot over 12 years -- something no one has ever done. Additionally, it has been a box office success. However, IFC Films generally does not campaign, and this could hurt Linklater's chances at an Oscar.

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "Birdman" is also a worthy candidate. Inarritu has previously been nominated in this category for "Babel." "Birdman" is obtaining a lot of hype and the fact that it is opening the Venice Film Festival and closing the New York Film Festival may foreshadow that this is a masterpiece.

Mike Leigh is also a veteran in this category and this year he is likely to be back with "Mr. Turner." "Mr. Turner" received raves out of Cannes and since Leigh has been nominated in this category for his last three films, his latest endeavor could already be considered a lock in the category.

Wes Anderson has also been nominated various times for Original Screenplay. "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is being considered his masterpiece by most critics. While the film opened in March, it won the Silver Bear at Berlin and also went on to become a huge box office hit. While the Academy is likely to forget about the comedy, Fox Searchlight will most likely give the feature a strong campaign.

"Interstellar" is also a huge contender in the category as Christopher Nolan has been nominated twice for original screenplay. His latest effort is being considered his most Oscar-friendly film and if it lives up to the promise, it could even win the category.

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski were famously snubbed for their magnificent work for "Ed Wood." This year, they are re-teaming with Tim Burton for "Big Eyes." The film has been on the radar for a long time, but swiftly lost steam since it has been absent from all festivals. The Academy has never recognized a single Burton film in this category. However, if the film truly lives up to its promise and if the Weinstein Company gives it a solid campaign, then it could make the cut.

Ira Sachs and Maurizio Zacharias could be nominated for the first time, as well, for their work on "Love Is Strange." The LGBT drama has obtained great reviews and already opened to a stellar box office. Sony Pictures Classics has big plans for the film come awards season and this could be the film's best chance at Oscars.

There are a number of longshots including Poland's Foreign Film selection "Ida," John Carney's musical "Begin Again," Ned Benson's double feature "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" and David Ayer's "Fury." James Gray and Ric Menello's script for "The Immigrant" is also unlikely to make the cut, as well as Stephen Beresford's critically acclaimed "Pride."