After earlier this year extending the number of nominations in the Best Film category of the Oscars from five to 10, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (under whose auspices the Oscars are run) has ruled that its 5,800 members must rank the nominated films in order of preference, from 1 (best) to 10 (worst). Previously members voted for one film only.
As Variety points out, the new system means that it’s possible that the winner could be a film that did not get the most first-place votes, particularly if it received a large number of second and third-place votes.
All Oscar nominations will be announced on 2 February 2010, with awards ceremony taking place in Los Angeles on 7 March.
