First Oscar Shortlists Announced

In what is likely a good representation of which films will dominate the star-packed proceedings in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre this March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its shortlists for the techie categories of visual effects and sound editing. And the candidates for Oscar glory are… yes, the usual suspects. Unsurprisingly – and deservedly - both Frodo and Harry's second outings and Spielberg's take on Philip K. Dick's tale Minority Report are up for awards together with Spider-Man and xXx all finding spots on both lists with big George's Star Wars: Episode III – Attack of the Clones and Men in Black II rounding out the seven hopefuls on the visual effects roll call. Our very own Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition and the gruesome We Were Soldiers fills out the places on the sound editing shortlist in their bid for technical honours. And how do the brains behind the Academy whittle down these technical awards shortlists to the official nominees and ultimate winners on the night? Through a 'bake-off,' that's how. In the film industry version of the cake contest at your local village fete, ten-minute clip reels from the sound editing shortlist will be screened on 4 February in front of the assorted brains of the sound editing award committee in a frenzied critical contest. The films up for the visual effects gong will go through the same process the following evening with the final nomination list from both categories announced on 11 February. You learn something new every day, don't you?