AMPAS Narrows Visual Effects Race Down to Seven

This is a big category now and the Academy really needs to give some serious thought on expanding the nominees from 3 to 5. At a board meeting over the summer,  they voted to  expand the voting rights of the various branches due to the Academy’s ongoing retweeking of its rules.  Visual Effects is one such  category  in desperate need of an adjustment. As of this year, AVATAR, STAR TREK are definitely in….anyone care to venture a guess on what will be the third? My own choice would be DISTRICT 9.

From AMPAS:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that seven films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 82nd Academy Awards ®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

• AVATAR
• DISTRICT 9
• HARRY POTTER  AND THE  HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
• STAR TREK
• TERMINATOR SALVATION
• TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
• 2012

On Thursday, January 21, all members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate three films for final Oscar consideration.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center ®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

Souce: Oscars.org