The Visual Effects Branch of the Academy has narrowed their longlist down to ten contenders. The five Oscar nominees will come from this list. This is a solid list with only Okja something of a surprise. Of note is what didn’t make this final list that was on the longlist. Justice League, Logan, Thor: Ragnarok, and Wonder Woman were the only ones I genuinely expected would be in the running that are not any longer. Valerian being here is a bit surprising, but also wonderful as it had some spectacular effects. I imagine the final five will include Dunkirk, The Shape of Water, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi with likely additions of Blade Runner 2049 and War for the Planet of the Apes, but I would be delighted to see Valerian on the final list, though I would be frustrated if most of the of the five I referenced didn’t make it.

10 CONTENDERS REMAIN IN VFX OSCAR® RACE

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 90th Academy Awards®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

“Alien: Covenant”
“Blade Runner 2049”
“Dunkirk”
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
“Kong: Skull Island”
“Okja”
“The Shape of Water”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”
“War for the Planet of the Apes”

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 6, 2018. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar® consideration.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

The 90th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/ 3:30 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.