The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has narrowed to seven the films that will be compete in the best visual effects bakeoff on Jan. 21. In alphabetical order, they are: Avatar, District 9, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and 2012.
At the bakeoff, VFX teams for each of the seven films will present 15-minute excerpts. After the screenings the attending members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch will vote to decide three finalists. The three will become the official nominees for the best visual effects Oscar to be handed out at the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7.