Oscar Narrows VFX Field

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today unveiled the 15 films short-listed for Best Visual Effects this year. Vfx teams behind each pic will present their work during the annual Bake-Off on Jan 3. A jury will then narrow the field again to seven films before deciding on three nominees.

Among this year’s surprises are the inclusion of the completely digital productions Beowulf from Paramount and Ratatouille from the Disney/Pixar machine. It’s rare for the Academy to lump animated films in with live-action blockbusters that use digital technology to help tell a story. At the other end of spectrum are Universal’s The Bourn Ultimatum, Warner Bros.’ I Am Legend and Disney’s National Treasure: Book of Secrets, in which digital tinkering is largely intended to go unnoticed.

Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a leading contender, considering its predecessor, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest took the statuette last year. Other more traditional competitors include Sony/Columbia’s Spider-Man 3, Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, New Line’s The Golden Compass, DreamWorks’ Transformers and Universal’s 300.

The 80th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 5:30 a.m. (PT) in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2007 will then be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. (PT).

The films qualifying for Best Visual Effects are:

Beowulf

The Water Horse