The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the seven films are in contention for achievement in Visual Effects for the 79th Academy Awards.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
* CASINO ROYALE * ERAGON * NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM* PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST * POSEIDON* SUPERMAN RETURNS* X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
A host of vfx companies will be vying for Oscar nominations, with Industrial Light & Magic leading the way with its diverse CG work on DEAD MANS CHEST (Davy Jones), POSEIDON (innovative water) and ERAGON (Saphira the dragon).
Other standouts include contributions to SUPERMAN RETURNS from Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rising Sun Pictures, Rhythm & Hues, Frantic Films, The Orphanage and Framestore CFC, among others.
Rainmaker, Rhythm & Hues and The Orphanage were primary contributors to NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. Contributors to X-MEN: THE LAST STAND include Cinesite, MPC and Weta.
And Peerless Camera Co. was the primary vendor on CASINO ROYALE, the James Bond reboot with Daniel Craig: the surprise shortlist entry in the area of invisible vfx.
On Jan. 17, the Academys Visual Effects Award nominating committee will view 15-minute film excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films in the Bake-Off. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate three films for Oscar consideration.
Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards will be announced on Jan. 23, 2007, at 5:30 am PST in the Academys Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2006 will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5:00 pm PST, beginning with a half-hour arrivals segment.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
