The film takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the nation of Panem, where a boy and a girl from each of the nation's 12 Districts are chosen annually as "tributes" and forced to compete in the Hunger Games, an elaborate televised fight to the death.

At the Reaping, each district's escort randomly chooses the name of one male and one female tribute from two separate glass balls. To be qualified for a reaping, one must be at least 12 years old.

Katniss stumbles across a mockingjay pin at the market. She gives it to Prim before the Reaping, telling her that as long as she has it, nothing bad can happen to her.

On the day of the Reaping, each potential tribute has their finger pricked so a Peacekeeper can scan their blood and verify their identity.

After her younger sister Prim is chosen as tribute, 16-year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place.

She and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark are escorted to the Capitol by their chaperone Effie Trinket and mentor Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor from District 12.

Sponsors can provide potentially life-saving gifts during the Games, ranging from medicines to food to weapons.

Katniss has a recurring memory of Peeta giving her a half-burnt loaf of bread from the back of his parents' bakery at a time when her family was on the brink of starvation.

Katniss meets her stylist, Cinna, who says it's his job to help her make a good impression with potential sponsors. For the Opening Ceremony, Cinna dresses Katniss and Peeta in black suits with capes made of fire.

Frustrated that the Gamemakers are paying more attention to their dinner than her archery, Katniss sends a whip-fast arrow right through an apple in the mouth of a pig they're eating, which definitely gets their attention.