For your consideration–CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY makes the Oscar shortlist for Visual Effects

Tim Burton’s summer blockbuster CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, is one of seven films announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today as being in consideration for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 78th Academy Awards. Other contenders are BATMAN BEGINS, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, KING KONG, STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, and WAR OF THE WORLDS.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2006, the Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee will screen 15-minute clip reels from each film, and then the members will vote to nominate three of these films for the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Those nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 31st. The Academy Awards will be presented on March 5, 2006, and will be televised live by ABC.

In other Oscar news, the song “Remains of the Day” from TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE is one of 42 contenders for the 5 Best Song nominations. To be eligible in this category, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original, and written specifically for the film. Thanks to sleepy and DeepinDepp for the Oscar updates; you can read the whole story on the Zone’s News & Views forum. Congratulations to all the potential nominees!