Oscar best film shortlist expands

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that it will expand the best film shortlist at next year's Oscars.

It has been confirmed that from 2010 the list will include ten nominated movies, rather than the current five.

President Sid Ganis said: "After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year.

"The final outcome, of course, will be the same - one Best Picture winner - but the race to the finish line will feature ten, not just five, great movies from 2009."

He added: "Having ten Best Picture nominees is going to allow Academy voters to recognise and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize."

However, an unnamed movie producer told TheWrap: "This is awful. It devalues the nomination. It could have an adverse effect if the ratings don't improve.

"The Oscars always had an exclusive feel, and that was one of the big appeals for fans and the industry at large."