Oscar's docu rules become hot topic

October 07, 2008 A controversy is brewing over a change to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' feature documentary rules that has distributors and film festivals crying foul. Because of the change -- which required a one-week qualifying run in New York by Aug. 31 -- one of the year's most buzzed-about docs, the Israeli animated film "Waltz With Bashir," won't be eligible for the documentary Oscar. The Academy's goal -- as it has tinkered with its rules for documentary eligibility -- has been to encourage theatrical exhibition of docs with awards hopes.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.