Jan 5, 2011 by Courtney O.

7 Films Compete for Oscar's Visual Effects Category

7 films remain in 2010 VFX Oscar Race
7 films remain in 2010 VFX Oscar Race
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that seven films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 83rd Academy Awards®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:



All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 15-minute excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films on Thursday, January 20. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The 83rd Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, 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.


Sources: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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Comments (41)

  1. Major Tom

    I'm going for Tron, Inception, or IM2, but if @Zany's post is any indication, Inception will take it. Which, I'm not complaining about, but I like a little unpredictability in my award shows.

    1 year agoby @movie-nutFlag

  2. Jay.A.Ottley

    @Dave ahhh man thanks for reminding me about that lol I was meant to add on about @Zany post at the end of my previous comment saying that if Zany is correct then Inception nails it

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  3. Daveactor7

    @coast2coast thanks
    @OTTLEY look at what @Zany posted about the academy. That is inceptions win right there

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  4. coast2coast

    No special effects are practical effects that are done on set. Visual effects are done through CGI. Look up a special effects company. They specialize in explosions, miniatures, etc. Visual effects are done through a visual effects house like ILM, Digital Domain or WETA.

    1 year agoby @coast2coastFlag

  5. moviegeek

    Tron, Inception, Alice in Wonderland, Scott Pilgrim, Iron Man. my guess.

    1 year agoby @moviegeekFlag

  6. Cripple

    Inception all the way.

    1 year agoby @crippleFlag

  7. Jay.A.Ottley

    @Dave While I actually love this conversation were having, its very interesting, the oscars always spark debates and debacles.

    The definition of visual effects in film term is to achieve an effect without the use of Special Effects, its all camera magic and prop design and all that jazz.

    While Special Effects is what is done via a computer or green screen using the illusions of CGI.

    Inception is a visual effects flick as you stated, the turning corridor sequence which is absolutely phenomenal upon itself all done without the use of Special Effects and CGI, therefore making it more visual than special effect.

    But in terms we gotta think the aspect that the way the judges are looking at it, cause they look at it from different angles.
    But It does sound like Inception has this one in the bag from multiple angle perspectives thast I can think off.

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  8. Daveactor7

    Damn wont those people who worked on the FX for Tron be tight. 68 weeks of working, they got paid, no oscar though

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  9. IlikePie202

    @Daveactor7 I think the tsunami scene was a good idea, but it was terribly done in my opinion

    1 year agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  10. Worth5Bucks

    good. Inception will most definitely get it.

    1 year agoby @mattbierwagenFlag

  11. Daveactor7

    @Pie i actually liked the tsunami sequence, though at times the fx water looked fake

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  12. IlikePie202

    @Daveactor7 TSN and Inception are definitely the top 2 films to beat at the oscars

    1 year agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  13. Pjwolsker

    inception... enough said

    1 year agoby @pjwolskerFlag

  14. IlikePie202

    @Daveactor7 I have to give credit to Eastwood for the visuals (it's his first film with CGI), but if someone like Christopher Nolan, or any experienced director (I'm not saying Eastwood isnt experienced. hes one of my favs) directed Hereafter, I would say that the visuals are horrendous. Really, the visuals (the opening tsunami sequence and the visions of afterlife) had such strong cartoonishness, that it took me out of the film every time.

    1 year agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  15. Daveactor7

    I just feel bad for Harry Potter lol never won a single oscar. Not even for its ingenious score for the first film...

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  16. Daveactor7

    so basically things will mainly be upon social network vs inception this year. Top two films to beat

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  17. IlikePie202

    @CelluloidKid the effects in Clash of Titans were terrible, as well as Prince of Persia. Percy Jackson's effects were bad, and Narnia's were mediocre. And Scott Pilgrim is one of the best films of the year, in my opinion.

    @Supes I agree that Inception had more clever uses of visuals than TRON. SO INCPETION SHALL WIN!!

    1 year agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  18. Daveactor7

    @Narrator agreed.

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  19. Daveactor7

    @Pie it wasnt that bad lol

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  20. Daveactor7

    @Zany agreed

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  21. IlikePie202

    why the f*ck is Hereafter on that list? I mean, overall I liked Hereafter, but the visuals are horrendous! INCEPTION OR TRON WILL WIN...

    1 year agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  22. The Narrator: The Better Man

    *craft, not raft.

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  23. The Narrator: The Better Man

    @Zany, definitely agreed. The raft work throughout Inception is phenomenal.

    @Dave, sure a few scenes looked forced effects speaking, but they didn't have enough time to create and render all those scenes throughout the film. Given the time granted, and the realism of it all, Inception is the most visually astounding film this year, hands down.

    1 year agoby @narratorFlag

  24. ZanyZap

    Here's some info on the category courtesy of our faithful friend, Wikipedia:

    "According to the official Academy Award rules, the criteria are:

    (a) consideration of the contribution the visual effects make to the overall production and
    (b) the artistry, skill and fidelity with which the visual illusions are achieved."

    Look at the second point. Inception will win.

    1 year agoby @zanyzapFlag

  25. Daveactor7

    @OTTLEY switch inception and Tron legacy around lol. Tron legacy should get visuals and Inception should get special. In inception they built a spinning hallway set with no FX thats special effects. Visual, in your terms, mainly should be cgi

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  26. Daveactor7

    @Cult Alice in wonderland was good? Hell no it wasnt. So much of the Fx work in that movie looked so fake

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  27. Jay.A.Ottley

    Fingers crossed @Dave

    But i have no reason why, i got this gut feeling, Hereafter is gonna get it, you know how big blockbuster movies never truly get that recognition they deserve from the awards, I think that may happen as per usual.

    But I guess its how they're looking at it

    Visual Effects = Inception

    Special Effects = Tron Legacy

    Budget Wise = Hereafter

    Dunno why I thought like that just am lol

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  28. Bane. Ferguson

    Scott Pilgrim, Inception was good enough, ALICE IN WONDERLAND WAS GOOD

    1 year agoby @Zak-FFlag

  29. Daveactor7

    @OTTLEY I really think Inception will take it home. They didn't use a whole lot of cgi in this film and yet achieved great action sequences

    1 year agoby @daveactor7Flag

  30. Jay.A.Ottley

    Ahhhhh ok @Dave thanks for the update.

    I guess now we need to figure weather they are looking at it in terms of visual or special effects on which deserves the win

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

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