For its 79th Annual Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is moving back to the last Sunday in February, a spot the Oscar show occupied in 2004 and 2005 before moving back a week -- to the first Sunday in March -- this year in order to avoid going head-to-head against NBC's broadcast of the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.

Next year, the awards will be held on Feb. 25, Academy president Sid Ganis said Monday. The live ABC broadcast will again originate from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland.

The slightly earlier date means that the entire nominations and balloting process will take place at a somewhat accelerated schedule when compared to the 78th Academy Awards.

Official screen credits will be due Dec. 1, and nominations will be mailed Dec. 26.

The nominations polls will close at 5 p.m. PST on Jan. 13 and nominations will be announced Jan. 23 at 5:30 a.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Final ballots will be mailed Jan. 31 and will be due by 5 p.m. PST on Feb. 20.

The Academy has set aside Feb. 5 for its annual nominees luncheon. And the Scientific and Technical Awards Dinner will take place Feb. 10.