Chances are that not even every member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences got a chance to see them all, but the organization that hands out the Oscars announced yesterday that over 300 films have qualified for the Best Picture prize. In addition, nearly 80 songs can be nominated for the Best Original Song award.
As per Academy regulations, films have to be screened at a commercial theater in Los Angeles County by midnight on Dec. 31 with a minimum run of seven straight days. A feature film is also considered a film that runs 40 minutes or more and it has to be screened in 35mm, 75mm or in an approved digital format.
The full list runs from Kevin Hart’s About Last Night all the way to the Yves Saint Laurent biopic. There must not have been any movies that start with “Z” eligible.
Of course, many Oscar analysts have already whittled the race down to a few names. Boyhood, Birdman, The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, Foxcatcher, Selma and possibly Interstellar are all expected to be jockeying for a Best Picture nomination.
AMPAS also released the list of 79 songs that have a shot to be nominated for Best Original Song. To be eligible, the song - both music and lyrics - must be used within a film or as the first song in the end credits. Several pop stars will be in the running this year, including Lorde’s “Yellow Flicker Beat” from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I. Fall Out Boy’s “Immortals” from Disney’s Big Hero 6 is also eligible.
Oscar nominations are announced on Jan. 15. The awards are on Feb. 22 in Hollywood.
image of ‘Birdman’ star Michael Keaton courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com