Mumbai: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that 281 feature films are eligible for the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2008.

To be eligible for 81st Academy Awards consideration, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, 31 December, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days.

Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.

Feature 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.

The 81st Academy Awards nominations will be announced on 22 January 2009 in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.