Yesterday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that twenty (20) films are in the running in the Visual Effects category and advance in the voting process for #Oscars2016.The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the preliminary shortlist. This year, in the Visual Effects category, the number of eligible films initially shortlisted for further consideration was increased to a maximum of 20 titles. The number of films that will be shortlisted for nominations voting remains at 10, which will be announced later this month.
Ant-Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Bridge of Spies
Chappie
Everest
Ex Machina
Furious Seven
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
In the Heart of the Sea
Jupiter Ascending
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation
The Revenant
Spectre
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Terminator Genisys
Tomorrowland
The Walk
Perhaps the most interesting outcome of the list is that the AMPAS committee has seen the latest (and very secretive) installment of Star Wars (lol). Some maybe recall the 3 first Star Wars winning the category in 1978, 1981 and 1984; consider that since the early eighties VFX's have change immensely, so unless new crew did something we can't imagine, film has strong competition in above list.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.