“Avatar” leads the competition at the upcoming Saturn Awards, with 10 nominations including bids for best fantasy picture, leads Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana and supporting players Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver.

“Sherlock Holmes” has eight nominations while “Watchmen” and “Inglorious Basterds” earned seven apiece. “District 9″ and “Star Trek” both contend in six races, though Oscar nominee “District 9″ did not earn a best picture bid from these kudos.

This 36th annual edition of the awards honors films across four genres — sci-fi, fantasy, horror and action/adventure/thriller. Though there are four best film awards, the other categories cull nominees from all four genres.

The best director race includes “Avatar” helmer James Cameron — who has won this award four times — and two of his Oscar rivals Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”) and Quentin Tarantino (“Inglorious Basterds”), with both their films contending in the catch-all action/adventure/thriller category. The other nominees: J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek”), Neil Blomkamp (“District 9″), Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Zack Snyder (“Watchmen”).

Members of the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror decide on both nominees and the winners, which will be announced June 24, 2010.

From the Los Angeles Times