Horror film Get Out leads expanded, gender-free MTV Movie and TV Awards

Get Out,written and directed by comedian Jordan Peele,earned six nominations including for movie of the year, bestactor for star Daniel Kaluuya, best villain and a new categorycalled "best fight against the system."

We'reliving in a golden age of content, and great storytelling and characters resonate regardless of whetheryou'rewatching it in a theatre or on TV.- Chris McCarthy, MTV president

Previously known as the MTV Movie Awards, theyouth-orientated network widened the categories of its annualshow to include television for the first time.

This year's showwill air live from Los Angeles on May 7 and will be hosted byAdam DeVine of the Pitch Perfectmovies and Comedy Central'sWorkaholicsseries.

"We're living in a golden age of content, and greatstorytelling and characters resonate regardless of whetheryou're watching it in a theatre or on TV," Chris McCarthy,president of MTV, said in a statement.

Move to gender-neutral categories

MTV, known for its irreverent awards shows, also replacedits former best actor and actress categories with theall-embracing, gender-neutral "best actor in a movie" and "bestactor in a show."

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The changes produced a list of nominations on Thursday thatincluded Game of Thronesstar Emilia Clarke competing for bestactor in a show against Donald Glover of Atlantaand MandyMoore from This is Us.

The fan favourite best kiss category included nods for the teenage same-sex embrace between Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome inthe Oscar-winning movie Moonlight,and for Taraji P. Hensonand Terrence Howard from TV hip-hop industry drama Empire.

Scoring three nominations each were TV shows Atlanta,Game of Thronesand This is Us,along with movies HiddenFigures,Loganand Moonlight.

The MTV awards show features the stars of blockbusterproductions and has established itself as a laid-back antidoteto Hollywood's awards season, which tends to honor more seriousfare. Winners are chosen by fans voting online.

New categories this year include best American story, for aTV show or movie that showcases America at its "open anddiverse" best. MTV said "best fight against the system"(formerly best fight) will recognize the TV show or movie whosecharacters exemplify a fight "against a system that tries tokeep them down."