(CNN) -- Fresh off their best picture Oscar nominations, 'American Hustle' and '12 Years a Slave' face off in several categories at Saturday's 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The two films are both up for outstanding ensemble -- the SAG Awards' rough equivalent of best picture -- and outstanding supporting female actor, a category that includes '12 Years' ' Lupita Nyong'o and 'Hustle's' Jennifer Lawrence.
'12 Years' is also in the running for best male actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and best supporting male actor (Michael Fassbender). The film, about a freeman forced into slavery in 19th century America, led all SAG Awards nominees with four nominations.
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'American Hustle' won the Golden Globe for best comedy or musical film; '12 Years' took home that award for best drama.
Among the other challengers are 'August: Osage County,' the sprawling comedy-drama based on Tracy Letts' play. It's up for ensemble, lead female actor (Meryl Streep) and supporting female actor (Julia Roberts).
The SAG Awards varied from the Oscars for a number of its nominations. 'Lee Daniels' The Butler,' which didn't get nominated for a single Oscar, earned three SAG Award nominations: ensemble, lead actor (Forest Whitaker) and female supporting actor (Oprah Winfrey). Daniel Bruhl ('Rush') and James Gandolfini ('Enough Said'), two other performers overlooked by Oscar, both earned nominations for supporting male actor.
Along with 'Hustle,' '12 Years,' 'August: Osage County' and 'The Butler,' 'Dallas Buyers Club' rounds out the nominees for outstanding ensemble.
Like the Globes, the SAG Awards also nominate television performers.
Nominees for ensemble in a drama are 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Breaking Bad,' 'Downton Abbey,' 'Game of Thrones' and 'Homeland.'
Nominees for ensemble in a comedy are '30 Rock,' 'Arrested Development,' 'Modern Family,' 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'Veep.'
'Breaking Bad' leads all TV series with four nominations. Alec Baldwin of '30 Rock,' who holds the record for wins with eight, is up again this year.
For performers, the Screen Actors Guild Awards represent recognition from their peers. The trophy is even called 'the Actor.'
For Oscar watchers, the awards offer a key indicator of which away the wind is blowing among members of the Motion Picture Academy. The actors' branch is the largest of any of the academy's voting blocs.
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But the SAG Awards' selections don't always match the academy's. Two years ago, 'The Help' beat 'The Artist' for outstanding ensemble. Before that, 'Inglourious Basterds' beat 'The Hurt Locker.'
The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will air on both TBS and TNT. Both networks are part of Time Warner, as is CNN. There is no host for the awards, but presenters include Amy Adams, Tina Fey, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jeremy Renner.
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