The 82nd Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 7, 2010, will have 10 feature films vying in the Best Picture category, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced today at a press conference in Beverly Hills.
"After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year," said Ganis. "The final outcome, of course, will be the same -- one Best Picture winner -- but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009."
For more than a decade during the Academy’s earlier years, the Best Picture category welcomed more than five films; for nine years there were 10 nominees. The 16th Academy Awards (1943) was the last year to include a field of that size; CASABLANCA was named Best Picture. In 1931/32, there were eight nominees and in 1934 and 1935 there were 12 nominees.
"Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize," commented Ganis. "I can’t wait to see what that list of ten looks like when the nominees are announced in February."
This move clearly opens up the field to animation and visual effects films. Last year DARK KNIGHT was a surprise omission from the final five nominees. This will also open up the field for animation, documentaries and foreign language films to break into the Best Picture category.
The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2. The Oscar ceremony honoring films for 2009 will again take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
