Oscars 2019: 347 feature films to compete for coveted awards

Oscars 2019 is scheduled to take place on February 9 and the Academy is busy announcing names of shortlisted names in different categories. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , 347 feature films are eligible to compete for the Best Picture Oscar and other trophies at the 2018 Academy Awards.

I includes films from big studio movies to smaller indie features and documentaries, many of which played only brief theatrical runs. This is because under the Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture qualifies if it has a running time of more than 40 minutes, is exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film or in a qualifying digital format and opens in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by December 31 and completes a minimum run of seven consecutive days.  

The number of film competing this time are slightly higher than previous year. Last year there were 341 films, 336 in 2016, 305 in 2015 and 323 in 2014. 

Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced January 22.