Academy Awards Bosses Move Honorary Prize to November Dinner

4 months ago 30th Jun 06:30

The winners of the Academy Awards' honorary trophies are to get their own gala in November (09).

In an effort to cut the length of the Oscars, the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Honorary Award will be handed out four months before the big event.

The winners of the honours will be announced in September (09), and the awards will be presented at a dinner in November.

In another change to normal Oscars practice, officials at the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced that all potential Best Song composers will have to pass a quality control test before their tune is even shortlisted.

New rules for the 82nd Academy Awards in March (10) state all tracks must achieve a minimum score of 8.25 on a scale of 6 to 10 in voting by members of the Academy's music branch.

If songs fail to reach that target, there will be no Best Song category.

Last week (ends26Jun09), Oscars bosses revealed 10 movies, not five, will feature on the final Best Film shortlist.