The American Cinema Editors have announced their nominees for the best edited films of the year. Once again, small, deliberately paced films are largely forgotten while big action spectacles are given prominent placement. They split out comedy editing because of the different constraints. Maybe it’s time to pull action films out into their own category.

Missing are Oscar Best Picture contenders Brooklyn, Bridge of Spies, Carol, Room and Spotlight. The last Oscar winner for Best Picture not to receive a nomination from the ACE was Driving Miss Daisy in 1989, which, prior to Birdman last year, was the last film to win Best Picture without an editing nomination at the Oscars. Could this be a sign of things to come or is this a one-off exclusion of perceived frontrunner Spotlight?

The Nominations

Best Drama Editing

Max Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Comedy/Musical Editing

Ant-Man
The Big Short
Joy
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Trainwreck

Best Animation Editing

Anomalisa
Inside Out
The Good Dinosaur

Best Documentary Editing

Amy
Cobain: Montage of Heck
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
He Named Me Malala
The Wrecking Crew

American Cinema Editors Data

Year Founded: October 26, 1950
First Awards: 1961 (55)