I have made a much needed update now to my Oscar Hopefuls list, including several new movements in the field. To see the full list, visit 2009 Oscar Hopefuls. I don’t have a lot of time to explain, so I’ll save that for another day. But this will be my last update before the first Precursors come out on the 30th (Monday).

Also, I’ve now added a brief snippet in the right-hand column to show a small sampling of what’s on the list plus a link to the full list. I’ll also be adding info about the precursors as they are announced in the sidebar on the right. The update section is no longer there as most updates will be posted here, so you’ll know as soon as I do.

And, for the first time, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has revealed the 10 finalists for the Animated Short Film category. These have been added to my Hopefuls list already, but here’s the official press release:

Beverly Hills, CA (November 20, 2009) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 animated short films will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Thirty-seven pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

* “The Cat Piano,” Eddie White and Ari Gibson, directors (The People’s Republic of Animation)
* “French Roast,” Fabrice O. Joubert, director (Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films)
* “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty,” Nicky Phelan, director, and Darragh O’Connell, producer (Brown Bag Films)
* “The Kinematograph,” Tomek Baginski, director-producer (Platige Image)
* “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte),” Javier Recio Gracia, director (Kandor Graphics and Green Moon)
* “Logorama,” Nicolas Schmerkin, producer (Autour de Minuit)
* “A Matter of Loaf and Death,” Nick Park, director (Aardman Animations Ltd.)
* “Partly Cloudy,” Peter Sohn, director (Pixar Animation Studios)
* “Runaway,” Cordell Barker, director (National Film Board of Canada)
* “Variete,” Roelof van den Bergh, director (il Luster Productions)

The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting in screenings held in New York and Los Angeles.

Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in January 2010.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.