Oscars shortlist to double

The nomination list for Best Picture will increase from five to 10...

12:43 25 June 2009

The Oscars nomination list for Best Picture will double in 2010.

Organisers of the Academy Awards have announced that instead of five nominees in the prestigious category, next year there will be 10.

The move will recognise a wider range of films and include "more populist movies" and different genres which are often overlooked.

Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said that the recent bumper crop of movies made organisers revaluate the situation.

Gains said: "We nominated five, but there were many other great films last year".

In 2009, films such as Batman blockbuster 'The Dark Knight', 'Tropic Thunder' and Pixar's hit 'WALL-E' were missed in the category despite their massive success.

He added: "Everybody says the academy will never nominate a comedy. Well, maybe we will."

It is the first time since 1943 that 10 films will be in the running and has been called "a return to the past".