Oscars decline to cut Best Picture nominees, only add to Documentary and FX shortlists

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ Board of Governors board met Tuesday night to set the rules for the 88th Academy Awards and declined to make any major changes. That’s a huge disappointment for anyone hoping that the Best Picture field would be cut or that casting directors and stunt people would finally be recognized.

The only change to the Best Picture category came in how the Academy will determine who exactly is nominated for that Oscar. According to Variety, in order to be nominated, the Producers Guild of America must determine that a producer is eligible or have successfully appealed the PGA’s ruling. This could limit the number of producers nominated for the award, since films have so many producer credits these days.

Back in March, there was the hope that the Academy would go back to only five nominees for Best Picture. For the past three years, the system as allowed for up to 10 nominees based on polling rules, but that resulted in only nine nominees in the first two years and eight nominees this past year.

The plan was initially put in place to help more popular films get nominations, but that didn’t necessarily work. Of the 2014 Best Picture nominees, only American Sniper hit $100 million, and that came mostly after the film was nominated. Birdman, which won the award, only finished its domestic box office run with $42 million.

Unless there is another meeting or a decision is made after new board members, we are stuck with this system for another year, notes TheWrap.

The other changes made last night effected shortlists. The Visual Effects shortlist was doubled to 20. The Documentary short subject shortlist grew by two to 10 films and the number of nominees is now set at five.

Lastly, animated or live action short films must now get a one-week theatrical run in Los Angeles to qualify and have to appear in theater listings. Both categories were also set for five nominees.

The 88th Oscars will be held on Feb. 28.

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image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com

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