According to the Academy, that's a 16.5% increase over 2004. It's also the first time in 32 years that more 300 movies have been ruled eligible and will contend for the title of Best Picture of the Year.
Ballots are now on their way to voting members of the Academy. The nominations will be announced on January 31, 2006. The 78th Academy Awards will take place on March 5, 2006 live from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, starting at 5pm PST.
The Official Rules
The Academy offers this explanation as to how a film becomes eligible for Best Picture consideration:
"According to Academy rules, to qualify for consideration a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or a qualifying digital format. A film must open in a commercial theater, for paid admission, in Los Angeles County between January 1, 2005, and midnight December 31, 2005, and run for seven consecutive days. Films that receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release are not eligible for Academy Awards® in any category. Official screen credits and copies of the main and end title credits must have been submitted to the Academy by December 1, 2005."
SOURCE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
